BENGALURU/METRO

Sunday, October 05, 2025

EPAPER EDITION n EP: 5 / 40

Gill appointed ODI captain;

Rohit, Kohli part of squad
Rasesh Mandani
[email protected]

AHMEDABAD : Test skipper

Shubman Gill was named
India’s one-day international
(ODI) captain on Saturday
ahead of the upcoming series
against Australia, ending Rohit
Sharma’s four-year tenure at
the helm and signalling the
beginning of a new phase in
India’s limited-overs setup.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar
announced that 38-year-old
Sharma and 36-year-old Virat
Kohli—both of whom retired
from Tests in May—will con-
tinue to be part of the squad for
the three-match series starting
October 19 in Australia while
noting that Gill was named
captain with the 2027 World Shubman Gill celebrates with Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar after India won the first Test
Cup in mind. against the West Indies, in Ahmedabad on Saturday, by an innings and 140 runs. Related story on page 16 PTI
“Obviously, at some stage,
you’ve got to start looking at
where the next World Cup is.
It’s also a format which is
Rohit eyes redemption INDIA AND PAK
WOMEN’S WORLD
played the least now, so you
don’t get that many games to with bat after role recast CUP CLASH TODAY
actually give the next guy that Rasesh Mandani catalyst to improve and reinvent NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s
much time to prepare himself himself as one of the modern team is set to face Pakistan in
[email protected]
or plan,” he said at a press con- greats in the shorter format. Colombo on Sunday in an ODI
ference in Ahmedabad AHMEDABAD: Rohit Sharma’s Fourteen years on, the World Cup clash, just days after
Sharma became the full-time early years in ODI cricket Indian selectors have tensions flared between the men’s
ODI captain in December 2021, were marked by struggles handed him a new sides during the Asia Cup. Offi-
taking over from Kohli. He led and inconsistencies, which challenge by stripping cials familiar with the matter ear-
the team in 56 matches, win- led to him being left out of him of the ODI captaincy. lier said that the women’s team
ning 42 of them. He guided the 2011 World Cup. The Rohit is now left to prove will also skip the customary hand-
India to victory in the 2023 Asia dejected but determined his worth with runs, match shake with the Pakistan side, akin
continued on →4 batter used it as a after match. →P16 to their male counterparts. →P15

4 ARRESTED FOR
GANG-RAPING States ban cough syrup after
29-YEAR-OLD IN
SUSHANT LOK-2 tests detect toxic chemical
Debashish Karmakar Shruti Tomar, Senjuti THE ADULTERATION “Test samples have been
found adulterated. We have
[email protected] Sengupta, and WAS DETECTED IN sought an explanation from the
Aparnesh Goswami
GURUGRAM: Four men were COLDRIF SYRUP manufacturer. Until further
[email protected]
arrested on Friday for gang-rap- MANUFACTURED orders, the production will be
ing a 29-year-old woman after BHOPAL/JAIPUR/BIKANER: Sam- stopped at the facility,” a Tamil
confining her to a house in ples of a cough syrup believed to
AT A FACILITY IN Nadu drug administration offi-
Sushant Lok 2 in Sector 55, Guru- have led to the deaths of eleven KANCHEEPURAM cial told PTI. “Until the company
gram, on Wednesday night, senior children in Madhya Pradesh gives us a satisfactory explana-
police officers said. The woman showed high concentration of tion, the production at the fac-
reported the matter to police on toxic chemicals, officials in Tamil over 48% compared to the per- tory will be halted.”
Thursday, following which the Nadu, where the company’s man- missible limit of just 0.1%. “The Tamil Nadu banned the sale of
four suspects were arrested. One ufacturing unit is based, said on concentration is extremely dan- Coldrif with effect from October
of them, the prime suspect in the Saturday –– prompting several gerous,” he said. 1 and ordered removal of stocks
case, is an acquaintance of the states to hurriedly announce bans. A team from Tamil Nadu’s from the market. Rajasthan, Ker-
survivor, police said. The contamination was Food Safety and Drug Adminis- ala and MP separately
“The woman was on her way detected in Coldrif syrup manu- tration department had con- announced they had banned the
back from Delhi on Wednesday factured at a facility in Kanchee- ducted an inspection at the phar- medicine. Diethylene glycol is a
when the prime suspect called her puram district. Madhya Pradesh maceutical company’s facility colourless, viscous liquid with a
and asked to meet. He took her to Drug Controller DK Maurya said last week and collected samples. sweet taste, commonly used in
a friend’s house in Sushant Lok 2, the concentration of diethylene The results were announced on industrial products such as brake
which was empty and allegedly glycol, or DEG, was found to be Saturday. fluids and antifreeze. →P2
raped her,” an investigator said,
asking not to be named. The man
later called his friends, who also
raped her.
Missile, shell production
INDIAN STUDENT opened to private sector
FROM HYD SHOT Shishir Gupta THE REVENUE
DEAD IN TEXAS [email protected] PROCUREMENT
Srinivasa Rao Apparasu NEW DELHI: The defence minis- MANUAL HAS BEEN Sanae Takaichi
try has opened the development AMENDED TO SCRAP
[email protected]

HYDERABAD: A 28-year-old stu-

and manufacturing of missiles,
artillery shells, ammunition and NEED FOR PRIVATE SANAE TAKAICHI ON
dent from Hyderabad was shot ordnance to private sector so that PLAYERS TO GET NOC PATH TO BE JAPAN’S
dead on Friday night at a gas India does nor run out of fire FROM MUNITIONS
station where he was working power in long term hostilities, a FIRST WOMAN PM
part-time in Denton, Texas, his move that is also in keeping with INDIA LIMITED TOKYO: Japan’s governing party
family members said on Satur- India’s push for self-reliance. on Saturday elected former eco-
day. The deceased was identi- While the government is pany Munitions India Limited nomic security minister Sanae
fied as Pole Chandrasekhar, a tight-lipped about the move, HT (MIL) before setting up an Takaichi, a hard-line ultra-con-
student of Master’s in Data learns that an amendment has ammunition unit. This means servative and China hawk, as its
Analytics at the University of been made to Revenue Procure- that the private sector will be new leader, making her likely to
North Texas, Dallas. ment Manual (RPM) that allowed to manufacture 105 mm, become the country’s first female
According to the informa- removes the mandatory require- 130 mm, 150 mm artillery shells, prime minister. In a country that
tion received by his family ment for any private entity Pinaka missiles, 1000 pound ranks poorly internationally for
members at BN Reddy Nagar involved in manufacturing of bombs, mortar bombs, hand gre- gender equality, Takaichi, 64,
Colony, Chandrasekhar was bombs and ammunition to seek nades, and medium and small makes history as the first female
allegedly shot dead by sus- a no-objection certificate (NOC) caliber ammunition, said people leader of Japan’s long-governing
pected robbers. →P6 from state-owned defence com- familiar with the matter. →P2 conservative LDP. →P13

Out on morning walk, 3 women run over

by speeding car in Gzb; driver in hospital
Peeyush Khandelwal the group, Vipin Sharma, 50,
from nearby Shyam Vihar Col-
[email protected]
ony, escaped with minor inju-
GHAZIABAD: Three women were ries after being struck sideways
killed and a man was injured by the vehicle rather than tak-
after a speeding car ploughed ing the full impact.
into a group of morning walkers Police have identified the
at the T-point of GT Road near driver as Diranjul Sharma, 35, a
Rakesh Marg in Ghaziabad on resident of Nehru Nagar.
Saturday. Sharma was also injured during
The victims—Meenu Praja- the incident and is currently
pati, 56, Savitri Devi, 62, and undergoing treatment.
Kamlesh Devi, 55, all from the “He will be arrested once he
New Kot Gaon locality—had left gets discharged,” said Upasana
their homes around 5am for pandey, additional commis-
The wreckage of the car after it hit a group of morning walkers on what relatives said was their sioner of police, Nandgram cir-
GT Road in Ghaziabad on Saturday. SAKIB ALI /HT PHOTO daily ritual. A fourth member of cle.
 BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

A TWTW
THE WEEK THAT WAS

Watch out for falling clues!

Pirate flags at protest sites, record breaking women of their fields, a new court order, a Natasha
Rego
new kid on the block, and a new comedy festival. Take your best shot at our news quiz

This pirate flag, being used in protests worldwide, is from a manga comic. Which one? AFP

1 A Jolly Roger pirate flag with a straw hat is flying high

as the symbol of rebellion, first at Nepal’s Gen Z protest,
then in Indonesia, then in Philippine’s. It’s straight out
of a manga comic that is more than 1,140 episodes in.
Which one? Ask Luffy.

2 Georgia O’Keeffe holds the record for most expensive

painting by a female artist, for her 1932 piece ($44.4
million). This record may be broken when The Dream
(The Bed) goes to auction. The 1940 self-
portrait features a skeleton wrapped in
explosives holding a bouquet. By whom?

3
This cryptocurrency is bobbing around the
Rs 1 crore mark. It was invented in 2008 by
Satoshi Nakamoto. The UK police just made
the world’s biggest seizure of 61,000 coins worth
$6.7 billion. Mine, trade and name the currency. This woman’s work is set to break auction records
for art. Who?

4US government activity is curtailed

when funding legislation is not agreed and human rights violations. Where will the festival
upon. Non-essential staff is take place?
furloughed. It’s happened 11 times

7
since 1990. The longest one was in Baby Rocki’s siblings are RZA and Riot. Mom Robyn
2018-19 for 35 days. What Fenty is a billionaire, a singer and a national hero of
happened this week after Trump Barbados. Father Rakim Meyers is an American
and Congress failed to reach a rapper and music icon. How do we better know
deal on healthcare subsidies? Rocki’s parents?

5 8
They hold our lives in their It took her only 50 balls to hit a century against
hands and yet their Australia. It took Virat Kohli 52 balls way back in
Give the name prescriptions are unreadable. 2013. She made her international debut in 2014. She
of this record- The Punjab and Haryana High now holds the record for fastest Indian century in
setting cricket Court has now ordered the ODIs. Vice captain. Opening batter. RCB player. Who?
star PTI government to include

9
handwriting lessons in the Twelve individuals competed. Over 1.7 million people
academic curriculum for this voted. Two-time runner-up Chunk finally won
profession. Pharmacists “Alaska’s most-watched popularity contest”.
can’t be the only ones Weighing more than 500 kgs, despite a broken jaw,
deciphering whose illegible Chuck was named winner of Fat ____Week. He’s not
scrawl? grizzly. He’s brown. And he’s stocking up for the
winter. Chunk is a …

6 Dave Chapelle, Louis CK,

10
and Bill Burr, among Jupiter’s moon Europa has shown promising signs in
others, are playing “the the search for extraterrestrial life. So have the moons
biggest comedy festival in of the another nearby planet. The moons Titan and
the world”. They’re getting Enceladus are showing potential signs of life. Which
paid enough oil money to planet, which loves rings?
look the other way from the
host country’s free speech Answers on page 4

A
l
Bodies of five,
who drowned
off Sindhudurg
coast, recovered
The
MUMBAI: Police in
Maharashtra’s
Sindhudurg district last
word
have so far recovered
five bodies among the
seven who were swept
away in the sea off
Velaghar beach on
Friday, an official said.
The search for the two Jeffrey Archer’s pacy thrillers have
missing persons is ushered generations of readers into the
going on, he said. A 16- world of adult reading. His latest, End
year-old girl was Game, wraps up the popular William
rescued by the teams,
he said. The incident
Warwick series. His next will be his last,
occurred around 4pm says Archer. What will he do when he
on Friday. PTI isn’t writing novels? And what has it
been like, trying to keep pace with
38 dog feeding crime and detection in our world?
spots fixed in ‘Oh, I stay right up-to-date,’ he says,
two MCD zones chuckling. ‘The readers mustn’t
NEW DELHI: Following know I’m 85’ →P9
the Supreme Court’s
August 22 directive to
designate fixed feeding { } { } { }
points for community
dogs, MCD officials said Less is core A quiet Paper trail
on Saturday that 24
feeding spots have so
Infrared blankets, hyperactive apps,
spa treatments that feature caviar
revolution AfiveDutch photographer spent
years capturing life in
far been identified in and diamond dust… Whatever The exquisite Marathi government offices, across
the west zone alone — happened to a simple walk by the movie Sabar Bonda eight countries on five
the first zone to make beach, an afternoon with a hobby, or marks the rare continents. There are glimpses
substantial progress in a quiet evening with loved ones? mainstream release of from Siberia, Patna, parts of
the exercise. Fourteen Ambi Parameswaran takes a look at a queer film in India. the US. In Liberia there was
spots have been marked the evolution of self-care, and — given Dhrubo Jyoti traces such poverty, workers brought
in the Shahdara north the breathless rat race we’re in, amid the story to its roots, in their own desks. There’s a
zone as well, said an our concrete jungles — what it will and looks back at how lot hidden in each frame, Jan
official. take to turn the clock back→P10 we got here →P11 Banning says →P12
hindustantimes.com BENGALURU/METRO
f @hindustantimes t @httweets i @hindustantimes l @hindustantimes
EPAPER EDITION EP: 5 / 40 18 PAGES + 4 PAGES OF HT CITY.
n n Sunday, October 05, 2025
CBC 15502/13/0032/2526

Hamas supports Gaza deal; Bihar in focus LAWSUIT FILED IN

U.S. COURT AGAINST
$100,000 H-1B FEE
as PM unveils
Trump wants strikes halted
Shashank Mattoo
[email protected]

Keir Starmer WASHINGTON: A coalition of

Agencies
Making headway
TRADE, DEFENCE ₹62k-cr plans workers’ unions, non-profit orga-
nisations and religious groups
launched the first legal challenge
[email protected] TIES TOP AGENDA against US President Donald
Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike, argu-
JERUSALEM: Hamas has agreed
Hamas did not demand a permanent ceasefire or full withdrawal as a condition to release the
OF UK PM’S INDIA
Arun Kumar and
Sanjeev K Jha
Pre-poll benefits ing he lacks authority to unilater-
hostages. Instead, the order was reversed — hostage release first, and then withdrawal
to release the remaining hosta- accrue for Bihar ally alter the terms of an immigra-
ges from its 2023 attack on Israel
and accepted key elements of a
WE DECLARE our acceptance to release all Based on the Statement just issued by VISIT ON OCT 8-9 [email protected]

PATNA/NEW DELHI: Prime Minis- Schemes till now cover:

tion programme created by Con-
gress. The lawsuit marks the first
occupation war prisoners (both living and Hamas, I believe they are ready for a
US peace plan proposed by Pres- dead) within the framework of the exchange lasting PEACE. Israel must immediate- Rezaul H Laskar ter Narendra Modi on Saturday l The elderly: Big jump in significant effort to contest
ident Donald Trump, offering formula presented in President Trump’s ly stop the bombing of Gaza, so that [email protected] launched a ₹62,000-crore bou- pension, benefitting 13 Trump’s skilled immigration
uncertain hopes for ending the proposal... We also reaffirm our approval to we can get the Hostages out safely quet of youth and education ini- million crackdown and could determine
two-year conflict in Gaza even as entrust the administration of the Gaza Strip and quickly! ... This is not about Gaza NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister tiatives—many focused squarely how much flexibility any presi-
Israeli bombardments continued to an independent Palestinian administra- alone, this is about long sought PEACE Keir Starmer will visit India next on Bihar—while cautioning that l Women: Two schemes, dent has to alter visa programmes
on Saturday. tion... based on Palestinian national consensus in the Middle East. week to meet Prime Minister “some people” were trying to without approval. →P6
The militant group said it was and supported by Arab and Islamic backing. DONALD TRUMP, Narendra Modi, review bilateral “steal” the Jan Nayak title payout to 7.5 mn women
prepared to free the last of the HAMAS, IN A STATEMENT US PRESIDENT relations and drive business and bestowed on socialist icon Kar-
hostages but indicated that other economic relations, the external poori Thakur by the people of l Youngsters: Three schemes,
aspects of Trump’s 20-point pro-
posal would require further Over 67,000 1,200 Isrealis 255 Total 156 Released 48 Still in 51 Bodies affairs ministry said on Saturday.
Starmer will travel to India
the state.
The outreach comes days
including monthly support
for graduates, interest-free
ADMIN DEMOLISHES
negotiation, including demands
Palestinians killed so far killed so far hostages or rescued captivity received
during October 8-9 for his first before the Election Commission student loans BANQUET HALL OF
that Hamas disarm completely. official visit to the country is expected to announce poll
BAREILLY SUSPECT
The developments mark the
most significant diplomatic
breakthrough in the two-year
either side’s demands prove
irreconcilable, leaving the devas-
tated territory trapped in contin-
Modi lauds progress against the backdrop of wide-
spread churn on the global stage
due to the policies of the US
dates for Bihar, where assembly
elections are due in the coming
months. Saturday’s was the lat-
30,000cr-plus
Estimated cost of welfare
MEERUT: The Bareilly Develop-
ment Authority on Saturday
schemes alone
conflict, with Hamas for the first
time signalling willingness to
release hostages without
ued warfare.
Trump initially responded
favourably to the Hamas state-
in Trump’s Gaza plan administration.
The two PMs will meet in
Mumbai on October 9 to assess
est in a spree of over a dozen ini-
tiatives and schemes announced
for the state by the ruling NDA. Rahul Gandhi ‘Jan Nayak’ dur-
demolished a banquet hall owned
by one of those arrested in con-
nection with the recent clashes
demanding a complete Israeli ment, calling on Israel to imme- NEW DELHI: India on Saturday “We welcome President the progress in different aspects “Karpoori Thakur wasn’t ing the Vote Adhikaar Yatra in linked to the “I love Muhammad”
withdrawal. diately halt its bombing cam- welcomed the progress in peace Trump’s leadership as peace of the bilateral comprehensive made Jan Nayak by social media Bihar. “Nowadays, some people poster row, citing “violation of
Yet substantial obstacles paign in Gaza. “I believe they are efforts in Gaza, with Prime Min- efforts in Gaza make decisive strategic partnership in line with trolls. He was made Jan Nayak are trying to steal even this title... norms”. On Saturday noon, three
remain, including Hamas’s ready for a lasting PEACE,” ister Narendra Modi lauding the progress. Indications of the “Vision 2035”, a focused and by the people of Bihar, after The people of Bihar need to bulldozers broke open the main
refusal to commit to full disar- Trump wrote on social media. US President’s efforts to end the release of hostages mark a sig- time-bound 10-year roadmap of observing his life,” Modi said remain vigilant so that this hon- gate of “Raza Palace” to begin the
mament and Israel’s insistence “Israel must immediately stop fighting and saying indications nificant step forward,” Modi programmes and initiatives. during the Kaushal Deekshant our is not stolen.” demolition which lasted for three
on maintaining security control the bombing of Gaza, so that we about the release of hostages said on social media. This roadmap includes key Samaroh at Delhi’s Vigyan The remark set the tone for a hours, officials said. The team
over Gaza. The fragile momen- can get the Hostages out safely taken by Hamas marked a “sig- India, Modi said, will “con- pillars such as trade and invest- Bhawan, in remarks seen as tar- day-long event showcasing the also sealed a three-storey house
tum could easily collapse if continued on →4 nificant step forward”. continued on →4 ment, defence and security. →P2 geting the Congress for calling continued on →4 in nearby Faiq Enclave. →P7

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02 BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

Page One Plus

{ MY INDIA } IN BASTAR { MY INDIA } JAMIESON GREER SAYS { MY INDIA } AGAINST DETENTION

Home minister rules ‘India is diversifying BORDERS OF MY COUNTRY Plea by Wangchuk’s

out talks with Naxals away from Russia oil’ wife in SC on Monday
KASHMIR’S MUSTARD BLOOM
AMITAVA CHANDRA
STATE: WEST BENGAL

Blooming mustard
fields in Kashmir
valley create a serene
and colourful spring
landscape.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday The Supreme Court is slated to hear on October 6
ruled out talks with Maoists, asking them to lay a plea filed by Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J
down weapons by accepting the government’s US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Angmo challenging the climate activist’s detention
“lucrative surrender and rehabilitation policy”. “They India has already begun diversifying away from under the National Security Act, and seeking his
[Maoists] should shun violence, join the mainstream, Russia as a source of energy, expressing optimism HT is featuring the best immediate release. According to the apex court’s
and become part in the development of Bastar,” Shah about resolving trade tensions while acknowledging images received for the cause list for October 6, the plea would come up for
said at the “Bastar Dussehra Lokotsav” and New Delhi’s sovereignty over its foreign relations. ‘My Country, My Lens’ hearing before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar
“Swadeshi Mela” in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Speaking at the Economic Club of New York this contest in Page One Plus and NV Anjaria. Wangchuk was detained under the
Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district. Reiterating the week, Greer argued that Russian energy purchases daily. The top three stringent National Security Act (NSA) and taken to
Centre’s deadline to eliminate Maoism by March 31, were not “some bedrock part of the Indian economy”. entries in each category Jodhpur on September 26, two days after protests
2026, he said: “Some people have called for talks “This is something we believe they can do and should will be published demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for
[with Maoists]... What is there to talk about? Come do and frankly I can already see them starting to separately. Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the
forward and lay down your weapons.” →P7 diversify. I think they get it,” Greer said. →P6 Union territory. PTI

Many states ban cough syrup Missile, shell production

opened to private sector
after tests find toxic chemical and that the state would cover the
Shishir Gupta
[email protected]

NEW DELHI: The defence minis-

try has opened the development
CURRENTLY, B.E.L.
AND B.D.L. ARE
THE SOLE
Indian private firms are required
to move into conventional missile
development with strategic mis-
sile development under the sole
purview of DRDO. India needs
Shruti Tomar, Senjuti
entire medical expenses of chil- DRUGS REGULATOR and manufacturing of missiles,
MANUFACTURERS more conventional missiles such
Sengupta and 6-year-old dies OF MISSILES,
Aparnesh Goswami dren still under treatment. ORDERS INSPECTION artillery shells, ammunition and
SURFACE TO AIR
as BrahMos, Nirbhay, Pralay and
Meanwhile, Chhindwara super- in Raj, probe on ordnance to private sector so that Shaurya as future battles will be
[email protected]

BHOPAL/JAIPUR/BIKANER: Sam-
intendent of police Ajay Pandey
said that an FIR has been regis- JAIPUR: A six-year-old
AT UNITS MAKING 19 India does nor run out of fire
power in long term hostilities, a
MISSILE SYSTEMS only fought by stand-off weapons
and anti-missile defence as the
ples of a cough syrup believed to tered against the Kancheepuram boy died in Rajasthan BANNED MEDICINES move that is also in keeping with AND TORPEDOS days of fighter planes are gone
have led to the deaths of 11 children unit, local doctor Praveen Soni, on Saturday after he Rhythma Kaul India’s push for self-reliance or with the dawn of over the horizon
in Madhya Pradesh showed high and one other individual on char- allegedly consumed Atmanirbharta. Development Organization surface to air missiles, experts
[email protected]
concentration of toxic chemicals, ges of culpable homicide not Dextromethorphan HBr While the government is tight- (DRDO) communicating its say. This was amply demon-
officials in Tamil Nadu, where the amounting to murder, as well as cough syrup, officials NEW DELHI: The national drugs lipped about the move, HT learns intent to open up the develop- strated by Indian S-400 system
company’s manufacturing unit is under relevant sections of the said. Churu district chief regulator has ordered inspec- that an amendment has been ment and integration of missiles taking down a Pakistan ELINT
based, said on Saturday –– Drugs and Cosmetics Act. medical and health offi- tions at all manufacturing units made to Revenue Procurement to private sector as firms such aircraft (either SAAB AEW or
prompting several states to hur- The contamination was Kerala health minister Veena cer (CMHO) Manoj across the country that produce Manual (RPM) that removes the as state-owned Bharat Dynam- Dassault DAC 20 ELINT) 314 kilo-
riedly announce bans. detected in Coldrif syrup George said on Saturday the state Sharma said, “The child, 19 medicines banned by certain mandatory requirement for any ics Limited (BDL) alone cannot meters inside Pakistan Punjab at
The contamination was manufactured at a facility in Drugs Control department sus- Anas (6), was brought to states following the deaths of at private entity involved in manu- cater to requirement of Indian the height of skirmishes during
detected in Coldrif syrup manufac- Kancheepuram district PTI pended the sale of Coldrif follow- the Churu district hospi- least 12 children in Madhya Pra- facturing of bombs and ammuni- armed forces. The missile sector Op Sindoor, on the morning of
tured at a facility in Kancheepu- ing reports from other states that tal on Wednesday night desh and Rajasthan allegedly tion to seek a no-objection certifi- has been opened to private play- May 10.
ram district. Madhya Pradesh to its similar physical properties to flagged issues with one batch of as he fainted after hav- linked to contaminated cough cate (NOC) from state-owned ers as Operation Sindoor has The Defence Ministry has
Drug Controller DK Maurya said safe pharmaceutical ingredients. the syrup. ing the Dextromethor- syrup. defence company Munitions shown that the future belongs opened both the missile and the
the concentration of diethylene Inadequate international regula- A preliminary inquiry revealed phan cough syrup. He The risk-based inspections, India Limited (MIL) before setting to stand-off weapons and long ammunition sector to private
glycol, or DEG, was found to be tions and lack of analytical testing that the flagged batch was not sold was being treated at the initiated on Friday across six up an ammunition unit. This range conventional missiles, the players as Indian armed forces
over 48% compared to the permis- methods contribute to such adul- in Kerala, but the drugs controller paediatric third unit.” states, aim to identify gaps that means that the private sector will people cited above said. BDL should not run out of ammuni-
sible limit of just 0.1%. “The con- teration, according to scientists. instructed inspectors to com- The child was led to the contamination and be allowed to manufacture 105 and Bharat Electronics Limited tion in case of a long war and be
centration is extremely danger- When consumed, it causes pletely stop distribution and sale referred to Jaipur’s JK suggest process improvements mm, 130 mm, 150 mm artillery (BEL) under DRDO are the sole forced to procure them at high
ous,” he said. abdominal pain, vomiting, kidney out of concern for safety, George Lon Hospital on Satur- to prevent such incidents in shells, Pinaka missiles, 1000 manufacturers of missiles and premium at a short notice from
A team from Tamil Nadu’s Food failure and can lead to death said. The drug is being sold day after his health dete- future, the Union ministry of pound bombs, mortar bombs, surface to air missile systems foreign vendors. With Russia and
Safety and Drug Administration within 8-24 hours of high- through eight distributors in Ker- riorated. He died hours health and family welfare said hand grenades, and medium and such as Akash, Astra, Konkurs, the West involved in the Ukraine
department had conducted an dose exposure. ala, all of whom have been after his arrival in the on Saturday. small caliber ammunition, said Milan and also of torpedos. war, and the Middle-East and
inspection at the pharmaceutical instructed to halt operations. Jaipur hospital, the offi- The ministry confirmed that people familiar with the develop- With Pakistan using long range Israel involved in Gaza war, mis-
company’s facility last week and MP announces ban Instructions have also been issued cial said. “His parents drug samples collected from the ment, asking not to be named. Chinese air to air and air to sur- siles and ammunitions are in high
collected samples for testing. The Within hours of receiving the to suspend the sale through medi- gave him a cough syrup Coldrif cough syrup manufac- Besides, HT learns that the face missiles and rockets during demand. Pakistan, on the other
results were announced on Satur- Tamil Nadu investigation report cal stores. four to five days back for turing unit in Tamil Nadu tested defence ministry has also writ- Operation Sindoor, the Modi gov- hand, has a permanent supplier
day. “Test samples have been on Saturday morning, Madhya The confirmation represents a cough. When condition positive for diethylene glycol ten to Defence Research and ernment’s assessment is that in China for its war effort.
found adulterated. We have Pradesh chief minister Mohan dramatic turnaround from Friday, of the child deteriorated, (DEG) levels exceeding permis-
sought an explanation from the Yadav announced a statewide ban when the Union ministry of health he was admitted in sible limits, providing the first
manufacturer. Until further on Coldrif, calling the deaths and family welfare stated that lab- Churu hospital on concrete evidence of contami-
orders, the production will be
stopped at the facility,” a Tamil
Nadu drug administration official
“extremely tragic”.
“The sale of this syrup has been
banned throughout Madhya Pra-
oratory tests detected no DEG or
ethylene glycol (EG) in cough
syrup samples.
Wednesday and then
referred to JK lon hospi-
tal on Saturday,” JK Lon
nation.
“On request of MP govern-
ment, Tamil Nadu FDA had
Starmer to visit India on Oct 8-9;
told PTI on Saturday. “Until the
company gives us a satisfactory
explanation, the production at the
desh. The sale of other products of
the company that manufactured
the syrup is also being banned,”
The tragedy may have been
compounded by prescription vio-
lations. In 2023, the Director Gen-
superintendent,
Dr RN Sehra, said. HTC
taken samples of Coldrif cough
syrup from manufacturing
premises of M/s Sresan Pharma
trade, defence relations in focus
factory will be halted.” Yadav said in a post on X. eral of Health Services sent a letter in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Rezaul H Laskar expected to come into effect
Tamil Nadu banned the sale of “The syrup manufacturing fac- to all states stating the Coldrif for- with 13 currently being tested by The results of testing of these next year. The FTA is expected
[email protected]
Coldrif with effect from October 1 tory is located in Kanchipuram, so mula should not be given to chil- MP authorities. Reports for four samples were shared with us to boost two-way commerce by
and ordered removal of stocks after learning of the incident, the dren under four years of age. samples have been received, while late evening yesterday, October NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister $35 billion in the long run, cut
from the market. The syrup has state government asked the Tamil Despite this advisory, doctors in the remaining are still under 3, 2025. The samples are found Keir Starmer will visit India tariffs on goods ranging from
been supplied to Rajasthan, Mad- Nadu government to investigate. Chhindwara prescribed the medi- examination. A second cough to contain DEG beyond the per- next week to meet Prime Minis- textiles to whisky and enhance
hya Pradesh and Puducherry, the The investigation report was cation to young children, said an syrup, Nexa DS manufactured in missible limit,” the ministry ter Narendra Modi to review market access.
official said. Rajasthan, Kerala and received this morning. Strict official of health department. Himachal Pradesh, is also under said. bilateral relations and to drive The visit will also “provide a
MP separately announced they action has been taken based on the Of the nine children who died in investigation. “The report of Nexa A multidisciplinary team of business and economic rela- valuable opportunity to reaf-
had banned the medicine. report,” he added. Madhya Pradesh, seven were four DS, another suspect syrup, is still experts from the National Insti- tions, the external affairs minis- firm the shared vision of India
Diethylene glycol is a colour- Yadav said a state-level investi- years old or younger, while two awaited,” Maurya said. tute of Virology, Indian Council try said on Saturday. and the United Kingdom to
less, viscous liquid with a sweet gation team has been formed. The were five years old — all below or Regarding distribution, Maurya of Medical Research, National Starmer will travel to India build a forward-looking part-
taste, commonly used in industrial announcement came on the day barely above the age threshold said the Coldrif syrup appears to Environmental Engineering during October 8-9 for his first UK PM Keir Starmer nership”, the ministry said.
products such as brake fluids and the state reported deaths of two specified in the 2023 warning. have been supplied only in the Research Institute, CDSCO and official visit to the country Modi and Starmer will meet
antifreeze. But it often contami- more children allegedly after they Chhindwara area and has not AIIMS Nagpur continues to ana- against the backdrop of wide- engage with businesses and amid unprecedented geopoliti-
nates pharma products, especially consumed the medicine. Second syrup still been found in other districts. “But lyse various samples and factors spread churn on the global industry leaders on opportuni- cal and geo-economic turbu-
cough syrups. DEG has also been Yadav also announced that the under investigation we have alerted all the drug to assess the cause of deaths in stage due to the policies of the ties presented by the Compre- lence caused by the trade and
used illegally as a cheap substitute families of the deceased will MP Drug Controller Maurya said inspectors to monitor its pres- and around Chhindwara in US administration. hensive Economic and Trade tariff policies of the Trump
solvent in drug manufacturing due receive ex gratia worth ₹5 lakh 19 samples were collected in total, ence,” he added. Madhya Pradesh. The two PMs will meet in Agreement (CETA) as a “central administration. The UK agreed
Mumbai on October 9 to assess pillar of the future India-UK on the general terms of a non-
the progress in different aspects economic partnership”, the binding trade deal with the US

2 killed, 10 injured in A
l of the bilateral comprehensive
strategic partnership in line
with “Vision 2035”, a focused
external affairs ministry said.
They will also discuss
regional and global issues.
in May that seeks to lessen the
impact of American tariffs,
while India and the US recently
Zubeen’s wife: Cops must decide High court dismisses plea against and time-bound 10-year road- Modi and Starmer will attend resumed talks on a bilateral
map of programmes and initia- the Global Fintech Fest in Mum- trade agreement.
UP septic tank blast on making autopsy report public
GUWAHATI: Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima on
Saturday returned the post-mortem report of
demolition of mosque in Sambhal
PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court on
Saturday dismissed a writ petition filed
tives.
This roadmap includes key
pillars such as trade and invest-
bai and deliver keynote
addresses. They will also engage
with industry experts, policy-
India’s campaign against ter-
rorism, the activities of pro-
Khalistan elements in the UK
HT Correspondent her husband to the police, saying the police against the demolition of a mosque in ment, defence and security, makers and innovators. and the return of economic
will be the best judge to decide whether it Sambhal district allegedly constructed on technology and innovation, cli- Starmer’s visit will build on offenders and fugitives wanted
[email protected]
should be made public or not. “As the pond land. mate and energy, health, educa- the momentum generated by by New Delhi are also expected
KANPUR: At least two people investigation is going on, I did not consider The order was passed by Justice Dinesh tion and people-to-people rela- Modi’s trip to the UK in July, to figure in discussions during
were killed and 10 others, the report as my personal document. So, I Pathak on a petition filed by the mosque tions. when the two sides finalised the the upcoming visit, people
including seven children, sus- have returned the same...” she said. committee. Modi and Starmer will also free trade agreement, which is familiar with the matter said.
tained injuries after a septic
tank exploded in Farrukhabad
district of Uttar Pradesh, offi-
cials aware of the details said.
The blast took place in the
basement of a building near
Aloo Mandi in Farrukhabad’s
The blast was caused by the
accumulation of methane gas
Cyclone Shakhti to weaken before returning to coast: IMD
Kadri Gate police area, district in the building’s basement. ANI Jayashree Nandi “Presently it’s moving away Rains lash UP, Bihar hailstorm over Northwest India
magistrate Ashutosh Dwivedi from the coast. But, after Octo- Heavy rains disrupted rail traffic during October 5-7 with peak
[email protected]
said, adding that the building Based on CCTV footage, police ber 5, it is expected to recurve and hit normal life in parts of intensity on Monday.
housed a coaching centre for said that the two were standing NEW DELHI: The severe cyclonic towards the Indian coast. It will, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on Sat- The weather department also
students from class 1 to class 12. outside the coaching centre storm Shakhti, currently over however, weaken over the sea.” urday. said a well-marked low-pressure
He said the explosion was when the blast occurred northeast Arabian Sea, is likely On Saturday, the cyclone with GRP station in-charge Viveka- area will bring heavy to very heavy
likely caused by the accumula- The injured included seven to move west-southwestwards wind speed of 100-120kmph gust- nand Yadav said that due to the rainfall in sub-Himalayan West
tion of methane gas in a septic children, aged between 8 to 12 and reach northwest and adjoin- ing to 135kmph lay about 470km rainfall, a tree fell on the railway Bengal till Monday morning.
tank located in the basement. years, studying at the coaching ing west central Arabian Sea by west of Dwarka, 470km west- line between Sahatwar and Bans- Issuing a red warning for the
“An explosion took place in centre. All the children are now Sunday. Thereafter, it will southwest of Naliya, 420 km dih stations, as well as between sub-Himalayan districts of Dar-
the septic tank of a coaching out of danger, however, two recurve and move east-north- southwest of Karachi (Pakistan) Revati and Dal Chhapra. The rail jeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch
centre. Prima facie, the explo- have been referred to a higher eastwards, towards the Indian and 600km east-northeast of traffic was restored after the fallen Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipur-
sion is being attributed to the medical facility for further coast, from morning of October Masirah ( Oman). tree was removed. duar, it said one or two places in
non-exhaustion of concentrated treatment, said DIG Kanpur Monday and weaken gradually, People wade through flooded streets in Varanasi on Saturday. PTI The cyclone –– currently mov- The railway tracks between these districts are likely to
methane gas,” Dwivedi said. range Harish Chander. the India Meteorological Depart- ing away from the coast and is Bakulha and Manjhi railway sta- receive extremely heavy rain till
“Two people have died.” The owner of the coaching ment (IMD) has said. September 26. “Thereafter, it northeast Arabian Sea and expected to intensify to a severe tions and in Dal Chhapra were Sunday morning, which will
The two deceased have been centre, Yogesh Rajput, has been Shakhti had formed from a intensified in to a depression, intensified into a depression and cyclone –– may turn again also affected due to soil erosion. continue till Monday morning in
identified as Deepak Kashyap taken into custody, while his remnant of low pressure area crossed the entire country. further into a cyclone and severe towards land, but it is expected IMD, on Saturday, said a fresh Alipurduar.
(26) and Akash Saxena (25), partner Ravindra Sharma is over Bay of Bengal near the Moved up to Gujarat as a low cyclone,” said M Mohapatra, to weaken by then, a senior intense western disturbance is
both residents of Farrukhabad. absconding, he said. North Andhra Pradesh coast on pressure area and emerged into director general, IMD. IMD scientist said. likely to cause heavy rainfall & With inputs from PTI
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 03
South Region

{ SABARIMALA TEMPLE }

SC to hear plea challenging Will move HC for probe

AFRICAN SWINE
FLU CASES
REPORTED FROM
KERALA VILLAGE
T’gana local polls on Oct 6 into ‘theft’ of gold: TDB While the counting of votes room for internal differences
Press Trust of India TDB PRESIDENT Board has nothing to hide, and
hence we are requesting a
Press Trust of India
[email protected]

KOTTAYAM: Several cases of

African Swine Fever, a highly
Srinivasa Rao Apparasu PETITIONER VANGA would be conducted on the during the election process. [email protected] ACCUSED THE OPPN court-monitored probe.” contagious and deadly swine
[email protected] GOPAL REDDY same day for sarpanches and “The candidate selection will THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The OF ‘EXPLOITING’ It also announced a complete disease, have been reported at a
HYDERABAD: The Supreme CHALLENGED THE ward members (gram pancha- be finalized only after conduct- Travancore Devaswom Board
THE CONTROVERSY digitisation initiative in collabo- farm in Kumarakom village
Court on Saturday admitted a T’GANA HC ORDER yats), the counting for MPTC ing ground-level surveys in (TDB) on Saturday announced it ration with NIC Chennai to panchayat in Kottayam district,
petition challenging the and ZPTCs would be conducted each constituency. will approach the Kerala high AS A CHANCE TO maintain a cloud-based record officials aware of the develop-
upcoming local body elections THAT ALLOWED on November 11 after the com- While the opinions of MLAs court seeking a comprehensive TARGET BOARD of all valuable temple items, ment said on Saturday.
in Telangana on the basis of THE S.E.C. TO pletion of the panchayat elec- and constituency In-charges investigation into all matters including ornaments, which The area within a one-kilo-
uncertainty in the implementa- ANNOUNCE THE tions, she added. will be duly considered in the related to alleged gold plating will be reported to the court. metre radius of the affected
tion of the recent government According to Gopal Reddy‘s selection process, the final irregularities at Sabarimala. He maintained that there was Meanwhile, Leader of Oppo- farm has been declared a dis-
directive mandating 42% reser- SCHEDULE FOR plea, the election cannot be decision will rest with the party Addressing reporters, TDB no lapse in procedure when the sition V D Satheesan urged the ease-affected zone, while the
vations for other backward LOCAL BODY POLLS held without verifying the legal high command,” Shridhar president P S Prasanth accused gold-clad plates of the Dwara- state government and the TDB 10-km radius around it has
classes (OBCs) in the state, peo- validity of the 42% quota for the Babu added. opposition parties of “exploit- palaka idols were sent to Chen- to clarify the current quantity of been declared a disease surveil-
ple familiar with the matter OBCs. On the other hand, Telan- ing” the controversy as a golden nai for replating. gold left from the 30 kg donated lance area by the district collec-
said. Based on the government He argued that despite the gana Bharatiya Janata Party opportunity to target the Board. “They were sent under the by Mallya in 1998. He demanded tor, they said.
Petitioner Vanga Gopal order, the SEC on September 29 court’s previous judgment that (BJP) president N Rama- “The high court will be aegis of the Thiruvabharanam a case be registered against the Kottayam district collector
Reddy challenged the state announced the schedule for the reservations should not exceed chander Rao also directed requested to conduct a thor- commissioner, with the execu- Devaswom minister, former Chetan Kumar Meena has
high court’s order of Septem- conduct of elections to the 50%, the Telangana govern- party leaders to finalize candi- ough probe into the alleged tive officer and vigilance offi- minister, and two former Board directed strict precautionary
ber 27 facilitating the State rural local bodies between ment was pushing forward date names by Sunday, asking decrease in gold at Sabarimala cials present. The process was presidents, and called for a High measures in all parts of the dis-
Election Commission to October 9 and November 11 in with measures that defied it. for three names for each seat. since 1998, when industrialist videographed, and a mahasar Court-monitored CBI probe. trict in response to the out-
announce the schedule for the five phases. Meanwhile, as the election A BJP leader said the selec- Vijay Mallya sponsored the plat- was prepared at the start and Senior BJP leader and Union break, an official statement
conduct of local body elections, It declared that the model schedule draws closer, all par- tion of candidates for zilla pari- ing of the sanctum sanctorum, end. The gold was transported minister V Muraleedharan also said.
while deferring the hearing on code of conduct in all the dis- ties are working out their cam- shad territorial constituencies and into allegations of misuse in a secure vehicle with police demanded a comprehensive CBI Distribution of pork and
the quota extension to October tricts, except Hyderabad, had paign strategies. will be done by the state com- by certain individuals in the protection,” Prasanth said, clar- inquiry, saying, “If the state gov- operations of shops selling it in
8. come into effect immediately. The Pradesh Congress Com- mittee, while the responsibility name of sponsorship,” he said. ifying that sponsor Unnikrish- ernment has nothing to hide, it affected areas have to be sus-
The court posted the plea for State election commissioner mittee (PCC) on Saturday asked for the candidates for mandal Prasanth said the widespread nan Potty was only asked to should hand over the case to a pended until further notice, it
hearing on Monday, before jus- I Rani Kumudini told reporters district party units to shortlist parishads will be entrusted to support for the recent Global come to Chennai for replating central agency.” He criticised said.
tice Vikram Nath. the elections for MPTC and prospective candidates and district-level core committees. Ayyappa Sangamam had trig- and was never handed the gold. chief minister Pinarayi The transport of pork, pigs,
The Congress government in ZPTCs would be held in the send three names for every seat Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra gered “fake allegations” against In a statement issued later, Vijayan’s silence and sought and feed to and from the
Telangana recently issued an first two phases, and elections in the local body elections by Samiti (BRS) working president Sabarimala. the Travancore Devaswom details on how much gold infected area has been tempo-
administrative order seeking to for gram panchayats would Sunday. K T Rama Rao on Saturday also He added that the TDB would Board said, “The credibility of remains from the 30 kg donated rarily banned.
provide 42% reservations for span all three phases. Senior Congress leader and instructed party leaders and demand a detailed probe cover- the great temple of Sabarimala in 1998. SNDP Yogam general Steps will be taken to cull all
the other backward classes in The nomination process for state IT minister D Sridhar cadre to prepare for local body ing the period from 1998 to should not be tarnished. That is secretary Vellappally Natesan pigs in the affected farm and
local body elections, even as a Phase I would begin on October Babu, who held a meeting of elections in an appropriate 2025, including scrutiny of dis- why the Board is demanding a echoed calls for a full probe. those located within an one-
bill passed by the state legisla- 9, with polling taking place on the party leaders in Vikarabad manner. crepancies in gold weight and thorough investigation. If some- Unnikrishnan Potty, a Benga- kilometer radius of it as per the
ture to that effect remains October 23, she said. and Ranga Reddy districts on The selection of candidates persons involved. “Let the court one has done wrong, they must luru-based businessman, had guidelines of the central gov-
pending with Telangana gover- The final phase of polling Saturday, called for complete is expected to be completed by carry out a comprehensive be punished. But attacking the sponsored the gold plating of ernment, officials said. A rapid
nor Jishnu Dev Varma for would be held on November 8, coordination among party lead- next week, according to people probe into the matters in Sabar- Board and the sanctity of the the Dwarapalaka idols and response team has been formed
approval. she added. ers and workers, leaving no aware of the matter. imala from 1998 to 2025,” he temple with untrue allegations taken them to Chennai as far to coordinate related matters,
said. is politically motivated. The back as 2019. they added.

Hyd student killed in SI suspended after lodge Malaysian firms likely to invest ₹10K-cr into
Texas, kin seek help owner reported missing Amaravati’s development over 5 yrs: APCRDA
to bring back body THE MALAYSIAN
DELEGATION
Press Trust of India
[email protected]
lodge in the last week of Sep-
tember.
She alleged that the officer
Srinivasa Rao Apparasu
[email protected]
Andhra Business Chamber, and
others, met Andhra Pradesh
evincing interest in projects
related to Telugu culture and tra-
Srinivasa Rao Apparasu HYDERABAD: A sub-inspector demanded money and warned state municipal administration ditions.
[email protected]
of police in Sangareddy district of arrest. HYDERABAD: Malaysian compa- PROMISED and urban development P Nar- “University of Cyberjaya (UoC)
was suspended following alle- She lodged a complaint with nies have evinced interest in ayana at the state secretariat. from Malaysia has proposed to
HYDERABAD: A 28-year-old stu- gations that his demand for a the police on October 1, stating investing around ₹10,000 crore
TECHNOLOGY An official statement from the set up a Medical University in
dent from Hyderabad was shot bribe and threats drove a lodge that her husband had no in various projects in Amaravati TRANSFER AND APCRDA said the Malaysian del- Amaravati, while the Berjaya
dead on Friday night at a gas sta- owner to jump into a river in a involvement in the incident. over a period of next five years, DEVELOPMENT OF egation conveyed that they are Group has come forward with
tion where he was working part- suspected bid to die by suicide On September 30, the lodge the Andhra Pradesh Capital prepared to invest around ₹ plans to establish five-star
time at Denton in Texas in the and subsequently be reported owner reportedly jumped into Region Development Authority
INFRASTRUCTURE 10,000 crores over the next five hotels,” the statement said.
United States, his family mem- missing, police said on Satur- a river and has remained (APCRDA) said on Saturday. years in Amaravati, particularly Narayana briefed the delega-
bers said on Saturday. day. untraceable since, a police offi- A delegation of Malaysian city, said an APCRDA release. in education, tourism and hospi- tion on the progress of Amara-
The deceased was identified According to the lodge cial said. investors arrived at Amaravati The delegation comprising tality, trade and commerce and vati’s construction works. He
as Pole Chandrasekhar, a stu- Pole Chandrashekhar owner’s wife, her husband was “The sub-inspector has been and went round the capital Selangor state exco minister real estate sectors. stated that Amaravati was being
dent of Master’s in Data Analyt- threatened by the SI concerned suspended pending investiga- region to get a first-hand experi- Papparayudu, member of Malay- The delegation also promised developed with a vision of one of
ics at the University of North course by December 12, 2025. in connection with the mysteri- tion into the allegations,” the ence of the developmental works asia parliament Ganapathi Rao, technology transfer and develop- the top five capital cities in the
Texas, Dallas. His professional profile shows ous death of a person at the official added. being undertaken in the capital representatives of the Malaysia– ment of infrastructure, besides world.
According to the information that he had been working as a
received by his family members Senior Data Analyst at GEICO on
at BN Reddy Nagar Colony under a part-time basis.
LB Nagar police station limits,
Chandrasekhar was allegedly
shot dead by some unidentified
Earlier, he had worked with
American Express as a Data
Analyst in Chennai between 2021
Bodies of 2 13-yr-old girls recovered TN temple gets bomb STONE PELTING IN
BELAGAVI AFTER
men suspected to be robbers.
Chandrasekhar’s brother Pole
and 2023, and as a Programmer
Analyst with Hitachi Energy in from a well in Kolar district: Police threat, searches yield DISPUTE OVER URS
Damodar told reporters that Bengaluru from 2020 to 2021.
PROCESSION: COPS
they had lost their father four
years ago. “We came to know
about the tragedy this afternoon
Former Telangana minister
and BRS MLA T Harish Rao
called on the bereaved family.
PRELIMINARY
Coovercolly Indresh
REPORTS SUGGEST
[email protected]
no explosives: Police missing case at Mulbagal Rural
Police Station. On Friday even-
ing, the bodies were found in a
Yohan P Honaddi
[email protected]
from the local police and we are The Dallas Police Department BENGALURU: Two 13-year-old THE POSSIBILITY well near Kuppampalya. We Agencies As it is currently exam vacation
in a state of shock. My mother is said an investigation is ongoing girls were found dead inside a have sent them to Kolar District and also Pradosham day today, BELAGAVI: A dispute over slo-
shattered and is not in a position in the case. “We are actively well near Kuppampalya in Kolar
OF EITHER Hospital for post-mortem exam- [email protected]
there has been a heavy influx of gans during the Urs procession
to speak,” he said. investigating the circumstances district , said police on Saturday, MURDER OR ination and later handed them MADURAI : A Meenakshi devotees since morning. of the Mehboob Subhani Dar-
The victim was identified surrounding this tragic incident adding that they were both SUICIDE IN THE over to the families on Satur- Amman Temple in Madurai Following this, the Madurai gah in Belagavi’s Khadak Galli
based on the passport available and working to bring clarity to reported missing on Thursday day.” received a bomb threat via City Bomb Disposal Unit police on Friday night escalated into
with the gas station manager. the case,” a police spokesperson night.
CASE, POLICE SAID He added, “We are awaiting e-mail on Saturday, according personnel, along with sniffer stone-pelting after residents
“We are trying to get in touch said.The Consulate General of The deceased— Dhanyabai the autopsy report. Once we to the police. The threat target- dogs, conducted intensive objected to a change in the
with the authorities of the exter- India (CGI) in Houston, which (13) and Chaitrabai (13)— were girls floating in a well located on receive it, the FIR will be altered ing the renowned temple trig- searches inside the temple, route, police said.
nal affairs ministry so that his oversees Texas and nearby both from Mulbagal taluk, they the outskirts of the village, said accordingly based on the medi- gered extensive security opera- including the sanctums of God- According to police, the
body can be brought to India at states, is coordinating with local added. police. cal findings. At this stage, we are tions in the aftermath. dess Amman and Lord Swami, trouble began when a group of
the earliest,” Damodar said. authorities and the victim’s fam- According to police, the two Preliminary reports suggest not ruling out any angle, and a According to Madurai city the Golden Flag Mast area, the men in the procession raised
“We are waiting for the medi- ily, a CGI official confirmed. girls were last seen playing near the possibility of either murder detailed investigation is under- police, an email threat was sent Annadhanam (free meal) hall, the slogan “I Love Muhammad,”
cal reports and the reason for fir- Telangana chief minister A their homes on Thursday even- or suicide, said police, adding way to ascertain the sequence of to the Director General of Police and the Teppakulam (temple drawing protests from locals
ing,” he added. Revanth Reddy also expressed ing. When they did not return that the exact cause of death will events leading to the deaths.” (DGP) office this morning tank) area. who questioned why the proces-
According to the details grief over the tragic death of home for a long time, their anx- be determined only after the Senior officials from the Kolar claiming that a bomb had been Later, after three hours of sion had deviated into their
obtained from his passport and Chandrasekhar. He said that all ious families searched the post-mortem examination. district police have also visited planted inside the Madurai intensive search operations in neighbourhood.
F-1 visa status, Chandrasekhar possible assistance will be pro- nearby areas and later lodged a According to inspector M. the site, said police. Meenakshi Amman Temple. and around the temple prem- The confrontation quickly led
was born in 1997 and left for the vided in bringing Chandrashe- missing complaint at the Mulba- Sathish said, “The girls went While the cause of death The world-famous Madurai ises, the official confirmed that to stone-throwing, though no
US in August 2023 to pursue his kar’s mortal remains to his gal Rural Police Station. missing on Thursday evening. remains uncertain, police said Meenakshi Amman Temple no explosive materials were serious injuries were reported,
masters in data analytics and he hometown. He said the state gov- On Friday evening, locals dis- Their parents filed a complaint that all leads including foul play attracts thousands of devotees found and confirmed that the said police, adding that police
was expected to complete the ernment will stand by the family. covered the bodies of the two at night, and we registered a were being examined. every day from various states. threat was a hoax. personnel intervened to dis-
perse the groups before the
clash could intensify. “We inter-
vened immediately and dis-
{ TIGER’S DEATH } SUSPECTED POISONING
TN to formulate crowd control persed the groups before the
matter could turn serious. The

norms to avert stampedes: CM

Karnataka forest minister seeks detailed situation is now under control,”
a senior police officer present at
the location said.

Press Trust of India

[email protected]
report on MM Hills tiger reserve proposal Domain experts, representa-
tives of political parties, activists,
Deputy commissioner of
police Narayan Baramani said
the organisers had not submit-
and the general public across the against negligent staff. He ted a clear route plan. “Only few
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief min- state would be consulted. “This
Press Trust of India FOREST OFFICIALS stressed that “speedy punish- stones were pelted and nobody
ister M K Stalin on Saturday said will become a model (to prevent [email protected]
SAID A SUSPECT ment must be ensured for those was hurt. The organisers have
the Special Investigation Team stampedes) that can be followed BENGALURU: A day after a tiger HAS BEEN involved in tiger killings, includ- never taken the procession
(SIT) set up on the basis of the by the entire country, not only by was found dead in the Male ing the recent case, to send a through this street earlier, and
order of the Madras high court Tamil Nadu.” Against the back- Mahadeshwara (MM) Wildlife DETAINED IN strong message.” such an incident has occurred
will begin its probe into the drop of the tragedy, “let us jour- Division, Karnataka Forest Min- CONNECTION WITH This is not the first such inci- for the first time,” he said.
Karur stampede and the investi- ney towards a long-term solu- ister Eshwar Khandre on Satur- THE CASE, WHO dent in the region. On June 26, a He added that the prolifera-
gation will bring out the truth in tion without blaming one day directed officials to hold tigress and her four cubs were tion of banners during festivals
its entirety and fix accountability MK Stalin another with political motives.” consultations with residents WAS CURRENTLY found dead in the Hugyam has heightened tensions, an
at all levels. Underlining that every life is pre- and submit a report on declar- BEING QUESTIONED range of MM Hills after con- issue he plans to raise with the
Appealing against political ones. The Special Investigation cious, the CM said he welcomed ing the area a tiger reserve. Eshwar Khandre suming a poisoned cow. Three Belagavi City Corporation.
blame game over the Karur trag- Team that has been set up based ideas and suggestions towards The carcass of the 12-year-old people, including the cow’s Police commissioner
edy based on political motives, on the order of the High Court the collective effort to prevent tiger, discovered on October 2, officials said. lets, and to ensure timely com- owner, were arrested in that Bhushan Borase said order was
the chief minister said Standard will launch its investigation. Sta- stampedes by formulating SOP. is suspected to have been poi- Chairing an emergency video pensation if wild animals kill case. restored with the involvement
Operating Procedure would be lin said he assures the people in “Let us unite to save the lives of soned, according to preliminary conference with forest officers livestock. During the meeting, Khandre of community leaders. “The sit-
formulated to prevent stam- his capacity as the chief minister our people and prevent such a findings. from all tiger reserves and the “Incidents of poisoning and asked officials to ensure that uation is under control, people
pedes. that “through this investigation, tragedy from happening again, Forest officials said a suspect Mysuru division, Khandre noted poaching have been reported outsourced frontline staff have been appealed not to
He said the Tamil Nadu gov- the whole truth will be brought not only in Tamil Nadu, but any- has been detained in connection that the State Wildlife Board from villages along the fringes receive salaries on time and respond to rumours to help
ernment is working by paying out and accountability will be where in India!” with the case, in which the ani- had already approved a pro- of MM Hills and Cauvery Wild- carry out patrolling duties prop- police to maintain law and
attention to all the guidelines fixed at all levels.” The Madras high court on mal was allegedly chopped into posal to declare MM Hills a tiger life Sanctuaries. Awareness erly. He also directed verifica- order,” he said. A platoon of the
and opinions of the high court Tamil Nadu will act as a October 3, 2025 ordered setting three parts. reserve. campaigns must be conducted, tion of the M-STRiPES digital Karnataka State Reserve Police
on the Karur tragedy. “All of us model for the rest of the country up a special investigation team “Interrogation is underway, “Officials must now consult and compensation for crop monitoring system for tiger was deployed in Khadak Galli,
have been shaken by the tragedy in averting stampedes, said Sta- under senior IPS officer Asra and the actual cause of death local representatives and sub- damage verified and paid with- conservation. while additional forces were
that unfolded in Karur,” the chief lin. Garg to conduct an investigation will be known soon,” they mit the final report,” a state- out delay,” he said. “Staff must take GPS-tagged stationed in other sensitive
minister said in a social media “We will formulate a compre- into the September 27 stampede added. A post-mortem revealed ment from his office said. Khandre further instructed photos during patrols so that areas, he said, adding that the
post adding he was saddened by hensive Standard Operating Pro- during actor-politician Vijay’s no evidence of snaring or gun- The minister also directed officials to intensify patrolling senior officers can periodically incident took place a day ahead
seeing the tears of every family cedure (SOP) in consultation rally in Karur that killed 41 per- shot injuries and confirmed that officials to compile data on cat- in MM Hills, warning that disci- review them,” he said, urging of chief minister Siddarama-
grieving the loss of their loved with stakeholders,” he added. sons and left over 60 injured. no body parts were missing, tle and residents in forest ham- plinary action would be taken the effective use of technology. iah’s scheduled visit to Belagavi.
04 My India
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

NIA files charge sheet in ‘24 Pb attack BIHAR SCHEMES Modi also dedicated NIT
{
500,000 graduates for two years.
}
cially in the next six months GAZA DEAL
NEW DELHI : The National Inves- sheet filed before a special NIA said in a statement. government’s push to modernise Patna’s new Bihta campus to the Before the main event, the when the focus will be on the and quickly!”
tigation Agency (NIA) has filed a court in Chandigarh on Friday. The probe by NIA revealed skill training and higher education nation—a sprawling facility with Prime Minister felicitated 46 all- T20 World Cup in February- However, the US president
charge sheet against Abhijot “The attack, which targeted a that Passia, arrested by the Fed- in a state with one of India’s capacity for 6,500 students featur- India toppers from ITIs, stressing March, Sharma and Kohli will later adopted a more forceful
Singh alias Babba, a key accused retired Punjab Police officer, was eral Bureau of Investigation youngest populations, high ing a 5G use case lab, an ISRO- the need to accord dignity to have to show that they can sus- tone, warning Hamas on Satur-
in the September 2024 grenade part of a conspiracy to spread (FBI) and US Immigration and unemployment rates, and elec- linked Regional Academic Centre skilled work. “If we don’t give tain form and fitness for another day that it must act swiftly. “I will
attack in Chandigarh, the agency fear in the society. The entire Customs Enforcement (ICE) on tions on the horizon. Chief minis- for Space, and an Innovation and prestige to skills, people with ICC cycle until the World Cup not tolerate delay, which many
said on Saturday. conspiracy was orchestrated by April 16, “was responsible for ter Nitish Kumar attended the Incubation Centre that has skills might think less of them- while sticking to one format. think will happen, or any out-
The federal anti-terror probe Pakistan-based BKI terrorist recruitment and funding, and function in Patna with his cabinet already supported nine start-ups. selves. This initiative is about The two retired from T20Is after come where Gaza poses a threat
agency said Abhijot Singh, Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, in for providing weapons and colleagues via video link. Among the key announce- changing that mindset,” he said. the 2024 World Cup triumph. again. Let’s get this done, FAST,”
arrested in April, has been collusion with US-based gang- explosives to the India based At the heart of the announce- ments was the inauguration of Quoting the Sanskrit maxim “I don’t think it has happened Trump posted on Truth Social,
named as an accused in a charge ster Happy Passia,” the agency operatives”. HTC ment was the Pradhan Mantri the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur ‘Shram ev jayate, shram ev too many times,” Agarkar said adding that “all bets will be off” if
Skilling and Employability Trans- Skill University—named after the pujyate’ (Labour is victorious and on players choosing to play only Hamas fails to move quickly.
formation through Upgraded ITIs late socialist leader who rose labour is respected), Modi under- ODIs. “Those are two really Israeli Prime Minister Benja-
(PM-SETU)—a ₹60,000-crore from a barber’s family in Samasti- scored that India’s growth story experienced guys who have min Netanyahu accepted
{ THE CROSSWORDS } centrally sponsored scheme co-fi- pur to become one of Bihar’s most rests as much on its skilled hands been around for a long time, so Trump’s peace plan last Monday
nanced by the World Bank and revered chief ministers. The uni- as on its educated minds. they would perhaps find it a lit- and said late Saturday that he
CRYPTIC CLUES PUZZLE 17295 © Gemini Crosswords 2018 All rights reserved
the Asian Development Bank to versity will focus on industry- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tle bit alien just to play one for- hoped to announce the release of
modernise 1,000 government-run linked vocational and technical said the 11 schemes launched by mat which is played the least, all hostages “in the coming days.”
ACROSS Industrial Training Institutes courses aimed at building a glo- the Prime Minister would “go a but they are the guys to answer Netanyahu confirmed he had
1 Stands up for the top players (9) across the country. bally competitive workforce. long way in lending strength to that and we will find out a bit sent a delegation to Egypt “to
8 Be quick! (5) The scheme follows a hub-and- Modi used the platform to the youth and grooming them for more when we see them in Aus- finalise technical details,” stating
9 Is unable to arrive at a harmonious spoke model with 200 ITIs serv- attack the RJD-Congress combine future challenges”. “The previous tralia playing.” that “our goal is to contain these
composition (7) ing as hubs and 800 as spokes. for what he called the devastation government had done nothing. Unlike in Tests — where Gill negotiations to a timeframe of a
10 The price of freedom? (6) Each cluster will feature of Bihar’s education system. “This We started in the right earnest had a point to prove as a batter, few days.”
11 Changing colour and passing away audibly upgraded infrastructure, digital generation may not realise how since 2005 and worked on all especially in overseas conditions Despite Trump’s demand for
(6) learning systems, and incubation devastated the education system aspects. We have been focused on — his ODI credentials are Israel to cease bombing, Israeli
12 Prepare to create a scene (8) centres. Pilot hubs will begin in in Bihar was two-and-a-half dec- establishing rule of law and inclu- already well-established, with an strikes on Gaza continued
15 He has yet to meet his match (8) Patna and Darbhanga, underscor- ades ago. Schools and colleges ran sive development. We have pro- impressive average of 59 in 55 throughout Saturday, killing at
18 Doctors adopt stern plans (6) ing Bihar’s priority in the rollout. erratically and there was no vided around 50 lakh jobs and matches. “He (Gill) is still quite least 36 people according to local
20 Uncommonly haughty (6) “ITIs are not only premier recruitment, forcing parents to employment opportunities in the young. We saw what he did in health officials. Eighteen people,
21 Music room (7) institutions of industrial educa- send their wards outside. This last five years and plan to double England under immense pres- including children, died in an
22 Deserted area is in a bad way (5) tion; they are the workshops of an compulsion was the reason it in the next five,” he added. sure, so there were really posi- Israeli strike on a house in the
23 Presses on to obtain answers (9)
Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Modi behind the start of large-scale tive signs there. You’ve also seen Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza
said. “In 2014, there were about migration from the state,” he said. SHUBMAN GILL his record in one-day cricket as a City, with the attack damaging
10,000 ITIs. Over the past decade, Responding to the allegations, Cup, a runner-up finish in the batter,” Agarkar said. several nearby buildings.
DOWN we have added 5,000 more. Our Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar 2023 World Cup, and the Cham- As captain, Rohit Sharma’s The developments present a
2 Highly intoxicating (5) focus now is on modernisation, said that the PM should also pions Trophy win eight months bold, aggressive approach trans- significant challenge for Netan-
3 There’s some point in this system (6)
QUICK CLUES linking training to new-age indus- speak to the young people about ago. Agarkar acknowledged formed India into one of the yahu, who has previously insisted
4 Possibly relating to the whole (8) tries.” employment. “It is good that he Sharma’s significant contribu- most dominant ODI sides in that fighting would continue dur-
ACROSS DOWN
5 Teased about being serious (6) 1 A considerable amount (5,1,3) 2 Treatment (5)
The Prime Minister also inau- held a dialogue with young peo- tions but emphasised the need world cricket, with an emphasis ing any negotiations and that
6 Traipse around for some money (7) 8 Accommodate (5) 3 Fall suddenly (6)
gurated 1,200 vocational skill lab- ple, but he should also answer to plan for the team’s future. on attacking play that has left a Hamas must be completely
7 Frantic steps made when animals panic (9) 9 Agriculture (7) 4 Exceptional (8) oratories across 400 Navodaya questions about question paper “Even if Rohit had not won lasting blueprint for future gen- destroyed. Acceding to Trump’s
10 Unsweetened (6) 5 To flourish (6) Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya leaks, irregularity in conducting the Champions Trophy, it would erations. Now, he must cement demands for an immediate halt
11 Certainly not like Thomas (9)
11 Tentative proposal (6) 6 Done by stealth (7) Model Residential Schools spread exams, and why those seeking have been a difficult decision his place solely as a batter — in a to military operations would
13 Severe trouble encountered in a difficult
craft (8) 12 Complete change in style (8) 7 Produce useful results (4,5) over 34 states and Union territo- jobs have to face police lathis,” he [captaincy change] because of format where he is regarded as likely face resistance from key
15 Commonly designated (2-6) 11 Wife of a US president (5,4) ries. These laboratories will train Kumar said. how good he has been for one of the modern greats, having members of his ruling coalition.
14 Achieving success with the orchestration (7)
18 Deep red gemstone (6) 13 Dish of rice, fish and eggs (8) students in 12 high-demand sec- Modi credited the NDA govern- India…But you have got scored 12,034 runs at an average Any potential hostage release
16 Claire makes a cake (6) 20 End-to-end extent (6) 14 Disgraceful fact (7) tors—from IT and automotive to ment under Nitish Kumar, which to…eventually look at what is in of 48.77. Asked what the select- would likely involve the exchange
17 Server of drinks carried a gun during 21 Hand-thrown bomb (7) 16 Present but not yet active (6) agriculture and logistics—aligned came to power in 2005, with the best interest of the team,” he ors expect from Sharma and of up to 2,000 Palestinian prison-
prohibition (6) 22 Haggard (5) 17 Decisive moment (6) with the National Education Pol- bringing the “derailed system” said. The former India pacer Kohli going forward, Agarkar ers and could begin a process that
19 The main idea of work perhaps (5) 23 Assume distinct form (4,5) 19 Find oneself eventually (3,2) icy (NEP) 2020 and CBSE’s voca- back on track. “One can imagine said he communicated the cap- said: “What they’ve been doing maintains Hamas in some role in
tional curriculum. Around 1,200 the effort required to restore a taincy switch to Sharma, but for years — try and score runs. I Palestinian politics. An upcoming
FRIDAY’S SOLUTIONS (17294) DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL vocational teachers will be mutilated leg that develops declined to share details.. “I don’t think that changes. We meeting of Palestinian factions to
{ SUDOKU } DIFFICULTY LEVEL trained to deliver this industry- germs. That is what they had mean that is a conversation hope they keep doing it, and you discuss Gaza’s future is expected
CRYPTIC

relevant education. reduced Bihar to,” he added. between me and Rohit or us don’t need to look too far ahead to include the group.
Targeting Bihar’s youth specifi- Modi said the education budget (selectors) and Rohit, but like I at this point.” Gaza City, once a bustling
cally, Modi launched a redesigned of the NDA government in Bihar said of course it has been com- urban centre, now lies in ruins
Bihar Student Credit Card has grown manifold compared to municated,” Agarkar said. PM ON GAZA CONFLICT after two years of warfare. Bomb-
Fill in all
Scheme offering interest-free the RJD-Congress regime, with a HT had reported in June that tinue to strongly support all damaged buildings lean precari-
the squares
loans up to ₹4 lakh for higher chain of technical institutions and the selectors were considering a efforts towards a durable and ously whilst paved roads have
in the grid
education. The scheme, which the schools now crisscrossing all dis- leadership change with an eye just peace”. been reduced to rubble, leaving
so that
state government has been using tricts. “Big national institutions on the upcoming ODI World This was the second time this much of the city in dust and
each row,
to support students in pursuing have come up in the last decade. Cup, amid questions over week that Modi praised Trump’s decay.
column and
higher education along with other IIT Patna is expanding, NIT has Sharma’s fitness and form. peace plan, and his remarks on
each of the
financial incentives, has so far shifted to its own campus. The Agarkar and head coach social media came after reports
9X9
seen 392,000 students avail loans Centre has approved 19 Kendriya Gautam Gambhir are believed to that Hamas submitted its
A
QUICK

TWTW
squares
worth ₹7,880 crore. Vidyalayas to the state. There was have held multiple discussions response to the US president’s
contains all
The Prime Minister laid the not even a proper playground in with top BCCI officials, stressing initiative. The group agreed to THE WEEK THAT WAS
the digits
foundation stone for new aca- Bihar earlier, but now the state is the need for the batter from free all Israeli captives and to
from 1 to 9. ANSWERS
demic and research facilities hosting national and interna- Mumbai to pass on the baton. hand over the administration of
under the Pradhan Mantri Uch- tional events,” he said. The chief selector added that the Gaza Strip to Palestinian tech-
chatar Shiksha Abhiyan Modi also distributed appoint- the ODI captaincy change was nocrats. On Tuesday, Modi wel- 1. One Piece
GAME ZONE: Scan the (PM-USHA) in four Bihar univer- ment letters to 4,000 new recruits also made to streamline leader- comed Trump’s 20-point plan to 2. Frida Kahlo
QR code for more sities—Patna University, Bhupen- in Bihar’s government and ship across formats and not end the Israel-Hamas conflict, 3. Bitcoin
daily puzzles and dra Narayan Mandal University released ₹450 crore in scholar- have three different captains– saying the initiative provides a 4. Shut down
brain teasers (Madhepura), Jai Prakash Vish- ships via Direct Benefit Transfer Suryakumar Yadav leads the “viable pathway” for long-term 5. Doctors
wavidyalaya (Chapra), and to 2.5 million students under the T20I team. “It’s practically peace and development for the 6. Saudi Arabia
TEMPERATURE Nalanda Open University (Patna). Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika impossible to have three differ- Palestinian and Israeli people. 7. Rihanna and A$AP
{ WEATHER } ALMANAC IN METROS These ₹160-crore projects are Scholarship Scheme. He also ent captains across formats… People familiar with the mat- Rocky
TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW Today is expected to benefit over 27,000 launched the revamped Mukhya- not just in terms of planning for ter said India has had a consist- 8. Smriti Mandhana
5th October 2025 Delhi
l 12 Rabi Al-Akhar, 1447 35°c I 25°c students with modern laborato- mantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata us as selectors, but for the coach ent, clear and longstanding posi- 9. Bear
l 28 Ashwina, Shukla
Mumbai ries, hostels, and multidisciplin- Bhatta Yojana, providing a as well,” Agarkar said. tion focused on a two-state solu- 10. Saturn
Paksha, 13
l Samvat 2082 31°c I 24°c ary learning spaces. monthly allowance of ₹1,000 to With ODIs spread out, espe- tion.
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY Sunset: Sunday Kolkata
Generally cloudy Generally cloudy Generally cloudy at 06:06 pm
sky with one or sky with Light rain sky with Light rain Sunrise: Monday 30°c I 26°c
two spells of rain at 06:09 am Chennai
Moonrise: Sunday
or thundershowers
at 04:47 pm 32°c I 25°c
Moonset: Monday Bengaluru
29°c I 20°c 28°c I 20°c 28°c I 20°c at 05:06 am 28°c I 20°c

Have fun

  
with facts     
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A

A quiz on the week’s development.
         

     

hindustantimes htTweets www.hindustantimes.com
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 My India 05
{ ‘APKI POONJI, APKA ADHIKAR’ CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED }
India-Singapore have immense
 
FM: ₹1.84L-cr financial assets avenues to collaborate: Goyal
lying unclaimed with banks Rajeev Jayaswal of the posts.   
  
The business session marked
[email protected]
HT Correspondent unclaimed area to another, which the 60th anniversary of diplo-
is holding this unclaimed deposit… NEW DELHI: Global investors matic relations between India
[email protected]
…The moment you claim it, you such as Blackstone, Temasek, and Singapore. The event was
AHMEDABAD: Financial assets get it,” she said. Sembcorp, Keppel Corporation, co-organised by CII, Ficci and
worth ₹1.84 lakh crore are lying Sitharaman said that it was Texas Pacific Group (TPG), ASSOCHAM.
unclaimed with banks and regula- Prime Minister Narendra Modi Nomura Asia Pacific Holdings, Goyal, who delivered the key-        

tors, and institutions need to take who persuaded her and the minis- and Schneider Electric note address at the event, com-
proactive measures to ensure that try to “move from one place to expressed their investment mended the transformative
these reach the rightful owners, another and call up people asking interests in India’s traditional progress achieved over the last
Union finance minister Nirmala them to claim their dues. So, and emerging sectors during Piyush Goyal six decades of diplomatic rela-
Sitharaman said on Saturday. Nirmala Sitharaman bridge the gap and make sure peo- Union commerce and industry tions and the promising
Launching the three-month ple can take it.” minister Piyush Goyal’s Singa- ties, and further deepening the prospects for deeper bilateral
“Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar” (Your and Action — to ensure these Addressing the event, DFS sec- pore visit. India-Singapore partnership,” engagement based on trust and
         
Money, Your Right) campaign unclaimed assets reach rightful retary M Nagaraju said that, as of During his three-day visit to he said after the meeting. mutual respect, the commerce
from Gandhinagar in the presence owners during the three-month- August 31, 2025, banks have trans- Singapore to further strengthen Goyal on Friday met Temasek and industry ministry said in a
of Gujarat finance minister Kanu- long campaign. ferred more than ₹75,000 crore bilateral economic and trade CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara statement on Saturday.
bhai Desai and senior officials She added: “As per the DFS worth of unclaimed deposits to the relations between the two coun- and “discussed key opportuni- He also highlighted prospects
from the banks and the finance (Department of Financial Servi- RBI. In the insurance sector, about tries, Goyal held “insightful dis- ties to further strengthen invest- of further cooperation across a
ministry, Sitharaman highlighted ces), ₹1,84,000 crore is lying there. ₹14,000 crore worth of policies are cussions” with Singapore dep- ment ties” between India and wide range of areas particularly
that the campaign carries a simple It is safe. I can assure you it is abso- lying unclaimed. uty prime minister and minister Singapore. in sustainability, digitalisation,
but powerful message that every lutely safe. You come when you About ₹3,000 crore worth of for trade and Industry Gan Kim The next day addressed a skills development, healthcare,
rupee saved by citizens must want with proper papers. Money Mutual Funds are unclaimed in Yong, he said in a post on X. business session of the ‘India- advanced manufacturing, and
return to them or their families. will be given to you. The govern- India. But the highest amount, “Excited to deepen India-Singa- Singapore@60: Partnership for connectivity, it said.
“Decades have passed during ment is the custodian for it.” which is almost 50% of all pore trade & economic partner- Growth and Innovation’ along- “A significant highlight dur-
which people who are in the know If the asset remains unclaimed unclaimed assets, are in equity ship through meaningful side Singapore’s minister of ing the three-day visit is meet-
have constantly voiced this feeling for a long time due to any reason, it where 172 crore company shares, engagements and robust public- state for foreign affairs and ing with HE Tharman Shanmu-
that unclaimed monies lying with gets transferred from one entity to and dividends, valued at ₹90,000 private collaborations,” he said trade Gan Siow Huang. garatnam, President of the
banks or RBI or with the IEPF another -- from banks, it goes to crore, remain unclaimed. in the post. In the meeting, he “high- Republic of Singapore, held at
(Investor Education and Protec- the RBI in case of deposits, and in To ensure wide participation, “There are immense avenues lighted greater collaboration the Istana. Discussions reaf-
tion Fund) need to be returned to case of stocks or similar assets, it the campaign will be conducted for our nations to collaborate and B2B opportunities between firmed the long-standing strate-
their rightful owners. We will have goes from SEBI to “another centre across all states and Union Territo- across sectors such as advanced our businesses, and emphasised gic partnership between India
to find the rightful owners and or the IEPF”, she added. ries during October—December. manufacturing, skilling, infra- further strengthening India- and Singapore, underpinned by
claimants of the funds and hand it “The RBI has created the Digital demonstrations and help- structure, and digital connectiv- Singapore trade & investment shared values, resilient eco-
over to them. It is their money,” UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits desks will assist citizens in tracing ity, among others. Look forward ties for a more balanced, inclu- nomic ties, and a joint emphasis
she said, urging officials to work Gateway To Access Information) and claiming their unclaimed to building on these opportuni- sive & future-ready economic on innovation and sustainabil-      
on three As — Awareness, Access portal. So, it is moving from one financial assets with ease. ties, strengthening investment partnership,” Goyal said in one ity,” the statement said.

    
 
     

    

      

06 My India
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

Suit in US challenges H-1B fee hike NDA's major poll sops in Bihar
In the run up to the upcoming elections in Bihar, the
700 per month
Shashank Mattoo workers uneconomical for most “The $100,000 requirement is gress under the Immigration National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have unveiled a increase in pension, up from
[email protected]
US companies. also arbitrary and capricious. and Nationality Act,” Nicole Gur- clutch of developmental projects and welfare 400 per month, benefiting 13
The legal challenge represents The government failed to con- nara, principal immigration schemes for the state. Key schemes are: million people
WASHINGTON: A coalition of the first significant effort to con- sider how extorting exorbitant attorney at Manifest Law, told
workers unions, non-profit orga- test the Trump administration’s fees will stifle innovation. The HT.
nisations and religious groups skilled immigration crackdown government failed to consider “That distinction matters 140,000
launched the first legal challenge and could determine how much harms to hospitals, churches, because it will determine how beneficiaries under the Jeevika
against President Donald flexibility any president has to schools and universities, and much flexibility the current and Didi programme to get double
Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike, argu- alter visa programmes without small businesses and non-prof- any future administrations have the honorarium, which for some
ing the president lacks authority congressional approval. its, or how the fee will harm to reshape visa programs with- roles is as high as 36k per month
to unilaterally alter the terms of Immigration lawyers told HT communities across the nation,” out going through the legislative
an immigration programme cre- the case’s outcome will have sig- US President Donald Trump the lawsuit states. process,” Gurnara said. 10,000
ated by Congress. nificant ramifications for Indian Trump, homeland security “But over the longer horizon, one-time allowance for 30,000
The lawsuit, filed in the professionals working in Amer- ing workers unions, religious secretary Kristi Noem, and the a ruling will likely clarify how education workers to purchase
United States District Court in ica on H-1B visas, who comprise institutions, and non-profits that department of homeland secu- stable and predictable the pro- smartphones
the Northern District of Califor- over 70% of the programme’s rely on H-1B workers. rity are named as defendants. gram can be, which matters
nia on Friday, seeks to overturn beneficiaries, and, over time, the Calling Trump’s proclamation At its core, the case questions enormously to Indian workers 2,000 per month
Trump’s presidential proclama- future of the Indian-American “arbitrary” and “capricious,” whether the President has the and other H-1B professionals increase in honorarium for ASHA
tion that raised H-1B application diaspora. petitioners argued the president legal authority to rewrite filing who have built their lives in the Mahila Mukhyamantri Bihar workers, up from 1k per month
fees from roughly $2,000 to The lawsuit brings together cannot impose new fees and requirements, such as adding a United States, as well as to the Rozgaar Nishchay Svyam Student
$100,000 — a change widely influential political groups taxes without legislative authori- $100,000 fee, or whether such employers who rely on their con-
Yojana Sahayata Credit Card 2,000 per month
expected to make hiring foreign affected by the fee hike, includ- sation. changes must come from Con- tributions,” she added. increase in honorarium of
Over 7.5 million Bhatta Yojana Scheme
Anganwadi workers, up from
woman to get The revamped The scheme 7,000 per month
10,000 each in scheme will see aids students to

Tariffs targeted at Putin, not to Hyderabad student 25,000

their bank 500,000 graduates avail interest-
accounts for receive monthly free education allowance for panchayat vikas
starting their allowance of 1,000 loans of up to mitras to purchase tablets
own venture

shape foreign relations: Greer shot dead in Texas

for two years 4 lakh

Srinivasa Rao Apparasu 125 free electricity

starting
Scholarship
for students
30,000 crore
September on the sidelines of from class 1 to Estimated hit to the exchequer,
Shashank Mattoo August 1, 2025
the UN General Assembly as [email protected] UNITS 8 doubled officials aware of the matter
[email protected] told HT, of the welfare schemes
both sides work to resolve the HYDERABAD: A 28-year-old stu-
WASHINGTON: US Trade Repre-
sentative Jamieson Greer said
50% tariff dispute.
A senior state department
dent from Hyderabad was shot
dead on Friday night at a gas sta- 50,000 cr projects announced during Nitish Kumar's
Pragati Yatra get state cabinet clearance
announced as of September 19

India has already begun diversi- official said Greer, along with tion where he was working part-
fying away from Russia as a
source of energy, expressing
optimism about resolving trade
secretary of state Marco Rubio,
is closely engaging with India to
persuade New Delhi to reduce
time at Denton in Texas in the
United States, his family mem-
bers said on Saturday.
Parties seek minimal CONG APPOINTS
EX-CMS AS BIHAR
tensions while acknowledging
New Delhi’s sovereignty over its
foreign relations.
Russian energy purchases.
According to US officials,
who asked not to be named, a
The deceased was identified
as Pole Chandrasekhar, a stu-
dent of Master’s in Data Analyt-
Pole Chandrasekhar was a
student at the University of
phases of Bihar polls POLL OBSERVERS
NEW DELHI: Congress president
Speaking at the Economic Jamieson Greer resolution of trade issues is ics at the University of North North Texas, Dallas. Anirban Guha Roy rolls, whether those deleted have Mallikarjun Kharge has
Club of New York this week, expected in the coming weeks. Texas, Dallas. been given the opportunity of two appointed former chief ministers
[email protected]
Greer argued that Russian “Obviously they are a sover- Sergio Gor, likely to become the According to the information attack. “We are waiting for the appeals and why they were not Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh
energy purchases were not eign country. They are going to next US Ambassador to India, received by his family members medical reports and the reason PATNA: Major political parties in given a written order as the final Baghel and former Lok Sabha
“some bedrock part of the control their decisions. Presi- hinted last month that both at BN Reddy Nagar Colony, for firing,” he added. Bihar, including the ruling rolls would be frozen once the floor leader of the Congress,
Indian economy” and suggested dent Trump is focused on this sides could work out a deal, tell- Chandrasekhar was allegedly According to the details BJP-JD(U) coalition and the dates of the polls are announced,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as sen-
India could shift away from quite discrete issue of ending ing senators that negotiations shot dead by some unidentified obtained from his passport and Opposition INDIA bloc, on Satur- said RJD state spokesperson ior observers in poll-bound Bihar,
Moscow’s oil without major the Russia-Ukraine war. We’re had reached the “nitty gritty” suspected robbers. F-1 visa status, Chandrasekhar day urged the Election Commis- Chittaranjan Gagan. for better election management in
economic disruption. not trying to dictate to other stage. Chandrasekhar’s brother Pole had completed his Bachelor of sion of India (ECI) to hold the the key Hindi-belt state.
“This is something we believe countries who they can have India faces a 50% tariff rate— Damodar told reporters that Dental Surgery before moving to forthcoming assembly polls in Verify identity of Kharge also appointed 41 dis-
they can do and should do and relations with and who they among the highest in the they had lost their father four the United States in August 2023 Bihar in a maximum of two pha- burqa-clad voters: BJP trict-level election observers in
frankly I can already see them can’t,” Greer said. world—affecting key export sec- years ago. “We came to know to pursue his Master’s in data ses during their interaction with The BJP has urged ECI to ensure Bihar. A circular signed by Con-
starting to diversify. I think they “But we are trying to make tors including textiles, gems and about the tragedy this afternoon analytics. He was to complete it Chief Election Commissioner that women in burqas are prop- gress general secretary KC Venu-
get it,” Greer said, noting that sure that Vladimir Putin feels as jewellery, shrimp and seafood. from the local police and we are by December 12, 2025. (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Patna. erly verified against their voter ID gopal said that the appointments
India had only ramped up much pressure as possible,” he The tariff comprises a 25% in a state of shock. My mother is Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) “We have urged the EC to con- photographs at the polling have been made with immediate
energy purchases from Russia added, acknowledging India’s reciprocal levy and an addi- shattered and is not in a position MLA T Harish Rao tweeted: “It is duct the elections in one or two booths. effect.
after the Ukraine war began in “strong relations” with Russia. tional 25% penalty specifically to speak,” he said. tragic that Chandra Shekhar phases. The election process need “Tallying of faces of voters, “Gehlot and Baghel have rich
2022. The trade representative for Russian oil purchases. The victim was identified Pole, a Dalit student from Nagar not be staggered...,” said state BJP especially burqa-clad women, experiences of running adminis-
Greer emphasised that Wash- described India as being “prag- US-India goods and services based on the passport available who completed BDS and went to president Dilip Jaiswal. He added must be ensured with respective tration and are old hands of the
ington was not seeking to dic- matic” on trade questions, not- trade stood at $212.3 billion in with the gas station manager. America (Dallas) for higher stud- that conduct of one or two phase EPIC cards so that only genuine party while Chowdhury led a state
tate India’s foreign relation- ing that New Delhi and Wash- 2024, according to the Office of “We are trying to get in touch ies, died in a shooting carried out elections would also put less bur- voters get to exercise their fran- unit of the party for a long time in
ships, while maintaining pres- ington have been negotiating the US Trade Representative. with the authorities of the exter- by miscreants early morning...” den of expenses on voters. chise,” said Jaiswal. West Bengal, a neighbouring state
sure over the specific issue of since the beginning of the India maintains a trade surplus nal affairs ministry so that his Telangana chief minister A “We have suggested the elec- Kushwaha hit back, saying: of Bihar,” a senior Congress
Russian energy purchases that Trump administration. of roughly $40-45 billion in the body can be brought to India at Revanth Reddy said all possible tion should be done in two pha- “This is a political conspiracy... leader said. The Congress plans to
the Trump administration Greer, a key player in trade relationship, which the Donald the earliest,” Damodar said. assistance will be provided in ses. Besides, we have raised the Identification of voters is no big deploy additional in charges in
argues funds Moscow’s war talks with India, met with com- Trump administration seeks to The family said they were yet bringing Chandrashekar’s mor- issue about the deletion of 3.66 deal. But the BJP wants to push its bigger districts such as Patna and
effort. merce minister Piyush Goyal in reduce. to know the reason behind the tal remains to his home town. lakh voters from the final updated own agenda.” Muzaffarpur. HTC

  
 
     



 BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 My India 07
Museum dedicated to legacy of UP police demolishes property
owned by Bareilly clash accused
Ramachandran to open today Deepak Lavania
[email protected]

MEERUT: The Bareilly Develop-

aib Beg and his late father Athhar
Beg, with the additional designa-
tion “former PCS officer”.
BDA officials said they had
Dhamini Ratnam ment Authority (BDA) on Satur- issued a notice on October 1,
day demolished a banquet hall directing Baradari police to get the
[email protected]
owned by one of those arrested in premises vacated before October
MUMBAI: In 1972, Achutan Ram- connection with the recent clashes 3. However, no action was taken
achandran Nair envisioned a linked to the “I love Muhammad” until Saturday afternoon, follow-
modest museum, run by himself poster row, citing “violation of ing which they carried out the
and his artist-wife Tan Chameli, norms”. sealing operation.
as a way to fulfil a long-held According to officials, the The ‘Raza Palace’ banquet hall Violent clashes had erupted in
dream of a life devoted to art. “Raza Palace” banquet hall in Zak- was demolished by officials in Bareilly on September 26 when
More than five decades later, heera is owned by one Nafees Bareilly on Saturday. PTI over 2,000 people had gathered
that vision is finally being real- Khan, alias Dr Nafees, considered outside a mosque in Bareilly’s
ised. On October 5, a museum to be a close aide of Maulana Tau- Tauqeer Raza allegedly took ref- Kotwali area after Friday prayers
showcasing Ramachandran’s qeer Raza Khan — the main uge before his arrest. to protest the cancellation of a pro-
paintings, sculptures, and illus- accused in the September 26 vio- BDA vice chairman Manikan- posed protest over the poster row.
trations—alongside a selection of lence — and is among the 81 peo- dan A said the building was con- Protesters resorted to stone-pelt-
his wife’s watercolours—will ple arrested in the case. structed in violation of norms. ing, causing injuries to police offi-
open to the public in Kerala’s On Saturday noon, three bull- “The action has been taken strictly cers. The protests were called by
Kollam district. dozers broke open the main gate according to legal procedure. It is Raza Khan to protest the FIR regis-
Housed in one of the buildings The works on display represent key phases of of “Raza Palace” to begin the dem- not targeted at any individual.” tration by Kanpur police on Sep-
of the Sree Narayana Guru Cul- Ramachandran Nair’s long and prolific career, olition which lasted for three The action caused a stir among tember 9 over the alleged installa-
tural Complex, opened by the and comprise 12 oil paintings, including four hours, said officials. The team also local residents. A nameplate out- tion of “I Love Muhammad”
state government in 2023, the monumental Lotus Ponds canvases. Other works sealed a three-storey house in side the venue drew attention, dis- boards on a public road during a
Ramachandran Museum will be include three sculptures, including one from his nearby Faiq Enclave, where cleric playing the name of caretaker Sho- Barawafat procession.
run under the aegis of the Kerala iconic bronze Gandhi series. RAMACHANDRAN MUSEUM
Lalit Kala Akademi and will also
house art works collected by the husband’s health deteriorated.
P human body as stark opposites added. This was also the period
renowned artist over the years,
besides some personal belong-
ings, and a recreation of his stu-
He was bedridden for a long
time. His old friend, MA Baby,
the general secretary of Commu-
He told me that I
–– as much meat as the Vitruvian
Man –– which he completed in
1967. In the mid-1970s, he dipped
when Ramachandran turned to
ceramics –– a set of nine rare
experimentations will be on dis-
Give up arms: Shah rules CUTTACK DCP, FIVE
OTHERS INJURED IN
dio. Its emblem comes from Ram-
achandran’s 2002 oil on canvas —
Song of the Simbul Tree.
nist Party of India (Marxist),
came over for a visit and pro-
posed a museum of his works in
had been very
important for his
into literature and mythology,
and his works were like political
satires in which the absurd
play at the new museum –– and
even tried his hand at minia-
tures.
out talks with Maoists COMMUNAL CLASH
Debabrata Mohanty
The works on display repre- Kerala. That’s when [Ramachan- creative life, so it turned surreal. He made etch- Political events played an Ritesh Mishra ernments are committed to
[email protected]
sent key phases of Ramachan- dran and I] sat down and ings like The End of the Yadavas important role in Ramachan- development across Bastar and
dran’s long and prolific career, decided what body of work we was necessary to (1979) and Khushiyon ka Bagh dran’s artistic responses. [email protected]
all Naxal-affected areas. What is BHUBANESWAR: Six people,
and comprise 12 oil paintings,
including four monumental
should give to the museum. He
told me that he would like me to
have my works (1981) inspired by writers like
Sadat Hasan Manto and Anwar
Siva Kumar said the 1984 anti-
Sikh riots had a profound impact
RAIPUR: Union home minister
Amit Shah on Saturday ruled out
there to talk about? A lucrative
surrender-and-rehabilitation
including Cuttack deputy com-
missioner of police (DCP), were
Lotus Ponds canvases. Other donate 10 of my watercolours there too Sajaad, respectively. In the 1980s, on him. “In a society where peo- talks with Maoists, asking them policy has been put in place. injured after a clash broke out
works include three sculptures, too, but I was not sure at first. He his efforts to create a language ple were immune to violence, to lay down weapons by accept- Come forward and lay down between two communities over
including one from his iconic told me that I had been very TAN CHAMELI, “influenced by an eclectic mix of trying to fight violence with ing the government’s “lucrative your weapons.” songs being played during a
bronze Gandhi series, original important for his creative life, so Ramachandran’s wife Indian traditions in painting and images of violence was meaning- surrender and rehabilitation pol- The development comes amid Durga idol immersion ceremony
illustrations created for chil- it was necessary to have my sculpture — figures from Ajanta less,” the curator said. The artist icy”. a call by a central committee in Odisha’s Cuttack on Friday
dren’s books published both works there too,” Chameli said. social commentary.” It is also murals, decorative flora from began his peregrinations in rural “I want to tell all my tribal member of the Communist Party late night, police said.
nationally and internationally, Trained at Santiniketan, West where he met his future wife Hoysala sculptures, and the parts of India, visiting villages in brothers and sisters to persuade of India (Maoist), Venugopal, According to Bhubaneswar-
and seven stamp designs com- Bengal, under Benodebehari Chameli, whose father was emi- vibrant colour palette of Malwa Rajasthan, such as the Bhil villa- the youth of their villages to lay alias Sonu, to shun arms. Cuttack police commissioner S
missioned by the Department of Mukherjee and Nandalal Bose— nent Chinese scholar Tan Yun- miniatures” –– saw an early form ges like Pai and Undri, sketching down their arms. They should “The Chhattisgarh govern- Dev Dutt Singh, the immersion
Posts (formerly the Post and Tel- who introduced him to Asian art Shan who opened the depart- in Yayati, which Ramachandran residents, returning to nature to shun violence, join the main- ment has made the best surren- procession of the Jhanjiriman-
egraph Department), including and its aesthetics—and influ- ment of Chinese Studies in San- began in 1984. The artist once draw from life anew. In the stream, and become part in the der policy in the country. More gala Bhagabat Puja Committee
one commemorating the 50th enced by the sculptures of Ram- tiniketan at the behest of its wrote that Yayati was a turning 1990s, he began making single development of Bastar,” Shah than 500 people have surren- was passing through the Haathi
anniversary of the 1930 Dandi kinkar Baij as well as a circle of founder Rabindranath Tagore. point in his work because it com- figure sculptures, and life-size said at the “Bastar Dussehra dered in a single month. Every- Pokhari stretch around 2 am
March. The museum will also progressive writers and musi- Tan Chameli, too, studied art and pelled him to incorporate ele- sculptural assemblages. One Lokotsav” and “Swadeshi Mela” one should surrender. As soon as when a dispute over the songs
feature Ramachandran and Cha- cians during his early years in trained under masters like Muk- ments of classical proportions such assemblage titled In in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of a village becomes Naxalite-free, triggered heated arguments,
meli’s collection of Rajasthani Kerala, Ramachandran moved herjee and Baij. After marrying and postures in his work. His Trance, which depicts a central Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district. the Chhattisgarh government which escalated into stone-pelt-
miniatures, primarily from to New Delhi in 1964, where he A Ramachandran, she did not Lotus Pond works –– four of figure modelled on himself, will Reiterating the Centre’s dead- will give it ₹1 crore for develop- ing and hurling of glass bottles
Nathdwara, as well as oil paint- taught at the Jamia Millia Isla- practice her own art till the early which will be shown in the be showcased at the museum. line to eliminate Maoism from ment. Naxalism will not bene- between the youngsters of the
ings from the Raja Ravi Varma mia for 27 years. 1990s, when she took up Chinese museum –– can be seen as the Critics have long debated Chhattisgarh by March 31, fit anyone,” Shah said. two communities.
school of Kerala. Professor R Siva Kumar, who ink and brush. She did, however, apogee of this stylistic practice. whether to call Ramachandran a 2026 and making the state “On behalf of the PM, I Cuttack DCP Rishikesh Khi-
Shortly before he died in Feb- has curated the collection in the collaborate with her husband in “Indeed, this move from exis- modernist. “He was a critical an industrial and tourism want to assure you that lari, got an eye injury along with
ruary 2024, the 89-year-old artist upcoming museum, said Santin- writing and illustrating chil- tentialist expressionism to myth- insider who interrogated mod- hub, he said: “Some people after March 31, 2026, other officers on duty. One per-
expressed his desire to donate a iketan had a profound impact on dren’s books published in India, ological reimagination and ernism based on his Indian expe- have called for talks (with Naxalites will not be son is reported to be in critical
number of his works in a hand- Ramachandran. “It taught him Japan, Korea and England. social satire also spanned the rience rather than an anti-mod- Naxals). Let me make it able to stop your devel- condition. “...Six persons were
written letter to Kerala chief that art can have an impact on Ramachandran was first rec- trajectory of several Malayalam ernist or traditionalist artist,” clear again that opment. They will arrested and have been for-
minister Pinarayi Vijayan. society in more subtle ways. ognised as a strong new voice in writers of the period, including Siva Kumar said. both the Chhat- not be able to warded to court on Saturday,”
“Around two years ago, after There was more to art than pow- the art scene with Encounter, a his friends G Aravindan and CN Ramachandran was awarded tisgarh and stop your Khilari said, adding that the situ-
the third Covid-19 infection, my erful personal expression or 24ft wide painting depicting the Sreekantan Nair,” Siva Kumar the Padma Bhushan in 2005. Central gov- rights.” ation is under control.

 
    

       

08 BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

Reflections

{ THE BIG PICTURE }

Imprint of the people in

shaping the Constitution
transformative order, they organised into largest demographic group in India — the
Contrary to the belief that it action to make constitutional demands, millions of people who belonged to what
was an elite decision-making translated the Constitution into their own was described as the backward classes —
languages, challenged the Constituent was claiming minority status. The secretary
exercise by the Constituent Assembly, and offered new ideas. In this of the Backward Classes League reminded
Assembly, the Constitution- process they made efforts to educate the the Constituent Assembly that the popula-
members of the Assembly. And most impor- tion of the backward classes, which
making process saw active tantly, they assumed ownership of the Con- included among other professions fisher-
campaigns by a cross-section stitution and made it their own. men, barbers, milkmen, and washermen,
The Indian public understood that the was 170 million — or more than half of
of society Constitution was going to change their lives. India’s population at the time. They com-
It animated their concerns. For plained that there were no repre-

T
he story of the making of India’s Indians of all faiths, caste was per- sentatives of the backward castes
Constitution, as usually told, haps the most important determi- among the ministers or in the Con-
begins in Delhi. As the clock nant of social and economic status. stituent Assembly, though by num-
struck 11 on December 9 1946, It is, therefore, not surprising that bers they should have had at least
the story goes, the Constituent the most intense public struggles 170 seats. They began to struggle
Assembly convened for the first were over the Constitution’s poten- Rohit De for their rights from outside the
time in Constitution Hall, New Delhi. The tial to radically change the social Assembly. Numerous letters from Focusing solely on the Constituent Assembly and its debates erases the intense engagements of Indians with the making of the Constitution
debates over the next three years among the order based on caste. The Indian different backward caste organisa- and obscures the critical role of the public in turning the Constitution into a living document and an open site of struggle. HT ARCHIVE
300 Assembly members and the constitu- public accordingly made constitu- tions — among them, the Kashyap
tional text they produced have become the tional claims that invoked old and Rajput Mahasabha in the North, nisation pointed out that it would be impos- Finally, backward caste groups presented aspires to be a democracy “where 3 crores
main source for understanding how India’s new collective identities. the Vannikula Kshatrias from sible for any member of a backward caste a powerful critique against upper-caste (30 million) of people (upper caste Hindus)
Constitution came to be. This meant that Dominant upper castes who had Madras, and the Baisya Kapali community to get a party ticket or be elected dominance, articulating demands for eco- with power and competence consider 340
the Constitution was seen as a result of elite enjoyed centuries of hegemony, Jubak Samiti from Bengal — in Punjab, an area dominated by Jat Sikhs. nomic, political and educational constitu- million backward caste, untouchables
decision-making, and that the constitutional now presented themselves as a arrived, demanding representation Similarly, the Central Jewish Board argued tional guarantees to transform it. Thus, the (Achut), Muslim, Christian and adibasis as
details were beyond the imagination, inter- minority in need of protection. Ornit and guarantees. that the Bene-Israeli Jews, a group within backward Nayi Brahmin community, a impure”. An independent democratic gov-
est and capacity of the Indian people. It has, Scheduled caste groups demanded Shani By insisting that the Constitu- the larger Jewish community and number- caste of barbers, argued that the entirety of ernment, in their view, could “exist only
thus, been seen as a pedagogical text for an guarantees for full rights and spe- tion recognise “economic and ing around 25,000 at the time, should con- the colonial State, from “the ordinary tehsil when every citizen thinks himself to be a
ignorant and undemocratic public. More- cial additional protections for their social backwardness” by caste, tinue to be considered an intermediate and officer to a judge of the Privy Council”, was part of government and thinks its legislation
over, scholars have persistently debated enforcement, believing that the Constitution these representatives of the backward minority community. Indeed, the Jewish composed of a “microscopic minority” of as his own”.
whether the Constitution marked a break or wouldn’t be enough. The vast majority of castes challenged both the ideal of an indi- identity of Bene Israelis was often ques- the upper castes. They, therefore, demanded Focusing solely on the Constituent
a continuity from the colonial past. the population, who identified themselves vidual liberal subject and the notion that tioned by other Indian Jewish communities, that every citizen be given “land free of cost Assembly and its debates not only erases
Our new book, Assembling India’s Consti- as “backward castes”, questioned the exist- backward castes exist only within the Hindu and they faced discrimination because of for construction of house and cultivation”. the intense engagements of Indians with the
tution, offers an alternative story, showing ing colonial classifications of caste and reli- religion. Indeed, claims for addressing back- the darker colour of their skin. They also asked for a regular uniform for all making of the Constitution but also
that the Indian Constitution was not solely gion altogether and asserted their right to wardness were not limited to Hindus. For Similarly, the All India Momin Confer- students, and that backward-caste students obscures the critical role of the public in
an elite exercise. We discovered that Indians define themselves. Strikingly, all castes, instance, the Punjab Provincial Saini Sabha, ence, which represented Muslim weaving be given uniforms free of cost. In the spirit turning the Constitution into a living docu-
from across the subcontinent were deeply groups and communities used constitu- which claimed to represent at least 10 mil- castes, not only challenged the authority of of socialism, they demanded roti-kapda- ment and an open site of struggle.
engaged with Constitution-making and tional language to advance their claims. lion Sainis (primarily an agricultural caste the Muslim League to speak for them, but makaan but differentiated themselves from
debated it. Contrary to the common wis- Indians understood that electoral democ- in North India), demanded guaranteed rep- also sought special representation and safe- the Left parties, which they criticised for not Rohit De teaches at Yale University and
dom, many Indians knew what they were racy and democratic majority would be resentation to all Sainis, be they Hindu, guards given their economic and educa- being led by members of labouring castes. Ornit Shani at the University of Haifa.
getting. Based on their expectations of a insufficient to protect their rights. Even the Sikh, or Muslim. The president of this orga- tional status. They doubted the future of a country that The views expressed are personal

{ SUNDAY SENTIMENTS } boys began to tease the girls about breasts ROY’S LATEST BOOK, { ANOTHER DAY }
and bras, Mrs Roy fetched a bra from her
own cupboard and bluntly proclaimed:
MOTHER MARY COMES TO
Karan Thapar ME, IS PARTLY AN Namita Bhandare
“This is a bra. All women wear them. Your
mother wears them, your sisters will too, ACCOUNT OF HER
soon enough. If it excites you so much, you
TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP
In which Arundhati are very welcome to keep mine.”
The chapters about Mrs Roy can be dis-
tressing. You often can’t believe what you
read. But you carry on. The autobiographi-
WITH HER MOTHER, MARY
ROY, AND PARTLY THE In Bihar, the focus is
AUTO-BIOGRAPHICAL
gives it those ones cal chapters feel very different. Here
Arundhati reveals herself as she has never
done before.
The book takes you through the early
STORY OF DIFFERENT
PERIODS OF HER LIFE. on the woman voter
id you know Arundhati Roy has a her “my gangster”. But I couldn’t help feel- years of her life, when she acted in or wrote unnerving. Clearly, I was entering a paral- t was Prime Minister (PM) Narendra astic with only 33% voting for the alliance.

D first name which she’s dropped?

She writes in her new book that
when she was 18, “I dropped my
first name, Susanna. Starting then, I gradu-
ally, deliberately, transformed myself into
ing she was more of a monster. When
Arundhati was six and on her first plane
journey, she asked her mother why her
aunt was so much thinner than her. Mrs
Roy turned on her in fury. So terrifying was
the script for films like Massey Sahib, In
Which Annie Gives It Those Ones and Elec-
tric Moon. Derek Malcolm, The Guardian’s
film critic, was unimpressed. “You will
have to change the title, because ‘Gives It
lel universe and would be vulnerable as
long as I was there.” In fact, she wasn’t. She
made friends and, I suspect, charmed the
inmates.
When you get to the end you realise the
I Modi who made the announcement, on
video conference, from New Delhi.
Though the scheme is named the Muk-
hya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, it was not
chief minister Nitish Kumar but the Prime
Unconditional cash transfers, once
derided by Modi as revdi or freebies, have
become an electoral strategy in successive
state elections — from Madhya Pradesh to
Maharashtra and Karnataka to Himachal
somebody else.” the experience that the six-year-old prayed Those Ones’ doesn’t mean anything in complexity of her relationship with her Minister who announced ₹10,000 each to 7.5 Pradesh. Across 11 states and across party
That’s one of many little nuggets she for the plane to crash. “I wanted it to crash English”. Arundhati and her team made mother. She hated her at times but loved million women in poll-bound Bihar to kick- lines, 113 million women are receiving pay-
reveals in Mother Mary Comes to Me. The and for all of us to die.” Her mother often the most of that comment. The publicity her on other occasions. Months before Mrs start livelihood activities. The BJP is the jun- ments from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 a month with
other eye-catching one is that she had an called Arundhati “a bitch”. What she said flyer proclaimed: “Well obviously Mr Mal- Roy died, she messaged her daughter: ior partner in a coalition alliance with Nitish another five states promising similar
abortion without anaesthesia when she to her brother, Christopher, was worse. colm, in England you don’t speak English “There is no one in the world whom I have Kumar’s JD (U) in a state assembly election. schemes, according to a July 2025 policy brief
was 22. “It was horrible. But it was done.” “When he was a teenager, she once said to anymore.” loved more than you.” That startled Arund- “It’s clear the BJP wants control and the by professor Prabha Kotiswaran of Kings Col-
She then caught the overnight train to Hos- him, ‘You’re ugly and stupid. If I were you, Arundhati’s first piece was published hati but she replied in the same vein. “You Prime Minister wants his imprint on the lege, London. “Cash transfers are recognition
hangabad on her way to Pachmarhi, where I’d kill myself’.” quite by accident. It was an essay called In are the most unusual, wonderful woman I developmental model in Bihar since 2006-07 of women’s unpaid care work inside the
she was filming. There was, of course, another side to A Proper Light. The editor of Sunday, who have ever known. I adore you.” under Nitish Kumar,” said Manisha Priyam, house,” Kotiswaran said on the phone. Her
The book is partly an account of her Mary Roy. She was a strong-willed, deter- dropped by to pick up a friend, chanced Despite their terrible times, I suspect Sir Louis Matheson distinguished visiting research has found that they result in
troubled relationship with her mother, mined woman who created a school called upon the essay. “And so, as casually as that, Arundhati misses her. “Bye-O”, she ends professor, Monash University. increased spending on items like medicine
Mary Roy, and partly the autobiographical Pallikoodam, which was well-considered my first piece of prose was published … It the book. “I’ll be seeing you.” It’s a model that has, so far, paid rich divi- and significant improvement in the financial
story of different periods of her life. It’s a and widely talked about. The students was 1992. I was thirty-two years old.” dends to Nitish Kumar, who has survived 20 well-being of the women beneficiaries — 99%
riveting, if often disturbing, read. were not just taught the school curriculum, The book also talks about the one day Karan Thapar is the author of Devil’s years of incumbency, mainly on the strength of whom had control over the money — and
Arundhati usually refers to her mother Mrs Roy personally supervised their bath- she spent in jail. “The sound of the prison Advocate: The Untold Story. of the women vote and a slew of schemes tar- also their greater decision-making power
as Mrs Roy. On the back cover, she calls ing and toilet-cleaning lessons. When the door slamming shut behind me was The views expressed are personal geting women. Among the schemes are: Free within households. Shamika Ravi, member of
bicycles to secondary school girls to reduce the Prime Minister’s Economic Council,
dropout rates, 50% reservation for women in agreed. “Within households where there
panchayats and urban civic bodies, 35% res- have been traditionally significant inequities,

Cultural amplification ervation in government jobs, and Jeevika, a

skill and livelihood-based self-help group
scheme with 12 million women members, to
whom he promised to bring in prohibition if
cash transfers to women have been effective
in empowering them as reflected in their
enhanced consumption share.”
But cash transfers come at a cost to the

sans military conquest voted back to power in 2015. A record 60.5%

women turned up to vote and ensured his vic-
tory. Despite the prognosis of financial ruin,
exchequer: It can range from ₹200 crore
(Himachal Pradesh) to ₹36,000 crore (Maha-
rashtra). Can states afford it, or, will these
the chief minister kept his word. come with cuts to government spending on
n a flying visit to Colombo last sand years in what is present-day Vietnam, In Bihar, a state with a high male migrant health and education? How will they impact

O week, I gave the inaugural keynote was Hindu and followed the cultural mores
address at an international confer- and practices of India, including the Sakya
ence on the cultural footprint of calendar. The Borobudur temple in Indone-
India across South and South-East Asia. In sia is a monumental example of the influ-
the annals of world history, there must be no ence of Hindu philosophy and architectural
population, women’s voter turnout has been
higher than that of men since 2010. That year
it was 54.5% for women and 51.1% for men. In
2015, 60.5% for women, 53.3% for men and in
2020, 59.7% for women, 54.7% for men.
longer-term investments on, for instance,
childcare infrastructure that can enable
greater workforce participation by women?
For now, there is only one question in Bihar,
and that is the expediency of a win. If nothing
other example of this kind of sanskritic vis- principles, as is Prambanan in Java dedi- In 2020, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA won else, the promise of cash transfers signals the
taarvaad or cultural amplification, which cated to the Hindu trinity. Bali is still a Hindu the assembly election by a narrow margin. A ever-growing power of the woman voter.
continued over a millennium and a half — enclave in an otherwise overwhelming (ear- poll analysis by Lokniti-CSDS found that the That at least is not going away anytime soon.
from roughly the 6th century BCE lier Buddhist) Islamic Indonesia, win was partly due to young women voters.
to the 12th century CE. and remains the only place I have In the 18-29-year-old category, 40% of women Namita Bhandare writes on gender.
The remarkable thing is that seen (India included), where a large voted for the NDA; the men were less enthusi- The views expressed are personal
this spread took place without statue of Bheema dominates a
military conquest. There are
many examples in history — par-
ticularly so during colonial Pavan K
prominent city square. Similarly,
stupas first built in India dominate
the Buddhist world, and Anuradha-
The Borobudur temple is an example of ancient India’s cultural influence. AFP
A
l
hegemony — of alien cultures Varma pura in Sri Lanka, dated 5th century merce, artisans, migration and pilgrimages. Hinduism. Buddhism and Jainism, pro- { SUNDAY LETTERS }
being imposed after armed inva- BCE, is a beautiful example, with a But to my mind, the real cause is the founda- found and powerful religions, could be born
sion. But in India, with the emer- Bodhi tree that originated in Gaya, tional ideology on which ancient Indian civi- in Bharat because there was no bar on the
gence of Buddhism around the India. lization was founded. It was, from its very sanctity of protest movements. Islam, in Women must own Politicisation of cricket
6th century BCE, an unprecedented philo- Sanskrit and Pali were the carriers of this inception, open, eclectic, inclusive, assimila- spite of the violence and proselytisation that farmlands This is with reference to “ Missing on the ground, more
sophical export took place over most of Asia. cultural export. Sanskrit vocabulary and tory, plural and dialogic. The remarkable marked its entry into India, could grow roots This is with reference to than handshakes” by Ronojoy Sen (September 28). Any
In parallel, beginning with the Amravati grammar exist in the Thai, Khmer, Balines Nasidiya Sukta in the Rig Veda (circa 3500 here because one of the mahavakyas or great “Making farm sector India-Pakistan clash in sports will evoke a different
period in the 2nd century BCE, through the and Javanese languages. The seminal text of BCE), the first written Sanskrit text, contains sentences underpinning our civilisation is equitable for women” by emotion altogether after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Gupta, Pallava, Pala, and Chola empires — Buddhism, Tripitaka Granth, is in Pali, as are no fiat, no diktat, but is an invitation to idea- “Udaar charitanam vasudhaiva kutumbu- Lalita Panicker There are other instances of teams not shaking hands
right up to the 12th century CE — there was many other key treatises. Other languages tion, questioning and interrogation. The kam” (For the big-hearted, the world is a (September 28). It is the in sport, hence the Asia Cup controversy is needless.
the diffusion of Hindu thought and culture. were also popular. Tamil is an officially rec- three foundational texts of Hinduism — the family). need of the hour to
Bal Govind
Evidence of this can clearly be seen in Cam- ognised language in Malaysia and Singa- Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the India did not need military conquest to educate women about
bodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, pore. With language went symbols and Brahma Sutras are dialogic. Each of the six export its culture because thousands of farmland ownership and
and beyond. motifs (lotus, Garuda, Apsaras, Nagas), systems of Hindu philosophy is a search not years ago our sages said: “Ekam sat vipra their rights, to empower II
In Thailand, I have witnessed the enact- mudras (including namaste), rituals and fes- for divinity but for what the truth could be bahudha vadanti” (The truth is one, the wise them. The government The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has long reflected the
ment of the local Ramayana, and there are tivals, textiles and food habits, astrology and behind the bewildering plurality of this vast call it by different names). We should not should start schemes to tense political ties between the two countries. Cricket
immensely popular indigenous variations of mathematics, and even political science cosmos. lose this strength, most of all within our own encourage women’s occasionally bridged divides in the past. The Asia Cup
the Mahabharata too in Cambodia, Laos, from Chanakya’s Arthashastra. Moreover, Sanatana Dharma allowed for nation. ownership of farmland. final showcases how politics dominates.
and Myanmar. The largest Hindu temple in I have often ruminated upon the reasons heterodoxy. The materialist Charvaka
the world, and one of only two dedicated to for this peacefully extended cultural foot- school bluntly says that the Vedas are Pavan K Varma is an author, diplomat, Abhilasha Gupta Sanjay Chopra
Brahma, is at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The print. Of course, there are the obvious rea- untruths. The Tantric practices are transpar- and former member of Parliament (Rajya
Champa dynasty, which ruled for a thou- sons: maritime borders, trade and com- ently unorthodox but continue to be a part of Sabha). The views expressed are personal Write to us at: [email protected]

Regd. Office : HT Media Ltd. 18-20, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110001 BOARD: (011) 23361234 • EDITORIAL: (011) 66561234 Extn. 1254, 1268
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BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 09

Jeffrey Archer

The last
word
His pacy crime thrillers have ushered generations of readers into the world of adult
reading. His latest, End Game, wraps up the popular William Warwick series. His
next will be his last, says Jeffrey Archer. What will he do when he isn’t writing novels?
And what has it been like, trying to keep pace with crime and detection in our world?
‘Oh, I stay right up-to-date,’ he says, chuckling. ‘The readers mustn’t know I’m 85’

Christalle Fernandes
[email protected]
P
I wanted to be a politician. I would
have liked to have been an opera

A
t 85, Jeffrey Archer says he is writing
his last novel.
His latest is End Game, the eighth singer. I would have liked to
and last book in the William Warwick
crime thriller series. It was released
captain the England cricket team
on September 23. – and bowl Tendulkar out. But I
“The one after this will be bigger ended up a storyteller. That’s a
than Kane and Abel,” Archer says
(referring to his 1979 bestseller and one of the titles for God-given gift. I got lucky
which he is best-known). “I wrote a 100-page outline for it six
years ago, but I wanted to take my time and finish the War-
wick series first.” a thousand hours... There are no shortcuts.
What happens after it is done? “I will be writing… short Being No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list is
stories, plays and screenplays. You can’t take stories out of another thing I’m proud of. And I was very proud that, at the
me. It’s what I do best,” he says. Jaipur Literature Festival in 2019, 8,500 people came to hear
That’s good news for fans who have followed his work for me speak. That was one of the great moments in my life.
nearly half a century, ever since his first novel, the revenge
thriller Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1976). Was much of it, in a sense, inevitable – writer, Parlia-
His life, of course, has had twists and turns of its own. mentarian, serial novelist?
What does the bestselling author and former UK Mem- They say you end up doing the thing you’re second-best
ber of Parliament (who resigned in 1986 amid a case that at. I wanted to be a politician. I would have liked to have
ended in a conviction for perjury) feel when he looks been an opera singer. I would have liked to captain the
back, on his trail of bestsellers and decisions made and England cricket team – and bowl Tendulkar out. But I didn’t.
remade? “I’ve had a long and privileged career. I got I ended up a storyteller. That’s a God-given gift. I got lucky.
lucky, and I’m grateful for that,” he says.
For now, the focus is on Warwick. In the years since How do you deal with regret?
he began writing his thrillers, terror has struck Lon- As an author, it’s easy. As a politician, it wasn’t. When I
don. Digital surveillance and artificial intelligences was an MP 50 years ago, I used to get a dozen letters a week
have invaded the streets. and I would hand-write replies... I’m just glad Google, Tik-
How has this altered the craft of detective story- Tok and Instagram weren’t around back then. I’m glad to be
telling? What has it been like trying to keep up? just an observer now. It’s been quiet for the last 25 years.
Excerpts from an interview.

v
Back to the writing, didn’t it make things harder, com-
Your final novel sounds massive in scale. Is bining fact and fiction as you did?
there anything you can tell us about it? I attempt to combine fact and fiction so that, when some-
Studying speeches made at the time, historians one reads about the London Olympics in a book, they
have said that, on September 15, 1941, the war led remember their own experience of it.
by Adolf Hitler on one side and Winston Churchill
on the other could have ended. Three major non- How difficult has it been to keep writing as the world –
fiction books have been written about what hap- and crime, policing and surveillance – have changed?
pened on that date, but no one has ever tackled There’s no option but to keep up with what’s happening
it in fiction. That will be my final novel. in the real world.
WATCH Jeffrey The timeline of my life goes from Gandhi to Modi, for a
Archer discuss Why stop after that one? little bit of context. I have to see what people are doing,
how he worked Both in The Clifton Chronicles and the Will- thinking and what real-world incidents they relate to. That
out the plot for iam Warwick series, I got quite attached to the makes the books feel like they’re set in the now. The readers
End Game characters. Most are based on people I mustn’t know I’m 85 (laughs).
know.... I’m very lucky to have lived to 85 to Truthfully, I meet fascinating people from different
be allowed to finish the series. But it’s time to spheres of life. I keep up with politics. I’m right up-to-date.
let go. I’ve written enough novels.

w Looking back, what would you say you

are proudest of?
The hard work. If I have done anything,
it’s put in the work. The latest book, End
Have you altered your writing in any way, to cater to
new types of readers?
No… You’ve got to do what you feel comfortable doing.
I’ve never thought, ‘Oh, horror is in, so let me add that.’ Or
sex or murder is trending, so I must add that. I just tell a sim-
Game, is the 17th draft, and took me over ple story, and hope you will enjoy it.

1 2 3
Jeffrey Archer, 85, was If he had to give On the Applause
READ an born in London and grew his life a sort of Entertainment plan to
exclusive up in the seaside town of motto, Archer adapt six of his novels
excerpt from Weston-super-Mare. Since says, it would be: as series in India, he says
End Game, the 1976, he has written 41 Work hard. he thinks it will take on
last book in the books, 24 of which have “There is no a life of its own. “I’m
Warwick series made it to No. 1 on bestseller lists. He substitute,” he adds. “If you anxious, of course, but I’m excited
is married to solar-energy researcher work hard, you can outpace to see what Applause does with the
Mary Archer, 80. They have two sons, people who are even more books. It’s completely up to them,
theatrical producer William Archer, talented than you are.” and I will give them any help I can,”
53, and businessman James Archer, 51. he adds.

inside
LIFESTYLE CULTURE URBAN
Less is core P10 A quiet revolution P11 Paper trail P12
Infrared blankets, hyperactive apps, crystals in The exquisite A Dutch photographer spent five
skincare and spa treatments that feature caviar Marathi movie Sabar years capturing life in government
and diamond dust… Whatever happened to a Bonda marks the rare offices, across eight countries on
simple walk by the beach, an afternoon with a mainstream release five continents. There are glimpses
hobby, or a quiet evening with loved ones? of a queer film in from Siberia, Patna, parts of the
Ambi Parameswaran takes a look at the evolution India. Dhrubo Jyoti US. In Liberia, there was such
of self-care, and — given the breathless rat race traces the story to its poverty, workers brought in their
we’re in, amid our concrete jungles — what roots, and looks back own desks. There’s a lot hidden in
it will take to turn the clock back at how we got here each frame, Jan Banning says
10 BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

wknd lifestyle

Less
is core
Infrared blankets and special teas, hyperactive apps, crystals in skincare,
and spa treatments that feature caviar and diamond dust… Whatever
happened to a simple walk by the beach, an afternoon with a hobby, or
a quiet evening with loved ones? Ambi Parameswaran takes a look at
the evolution of self-care, and — given the breathless rat race we’re in,
amid our concrete jungles — what it will take to turn the clock back

where self-care efforts could begin

Ambi Parameswaran (let us say it plainly: with some let-up
in hours).
[email protected] The pandemic has intensified our
anxieties and isolation. Artificial intelli-
hat makes us gence has added to them. We work from

W
happy? home and worry about our jobs, shop
In his book from home and worry about EMIs. Amid it
Authentic all, we lose out on vital human connection.
Happiness In its place, we lean on mushrooming
(2002), psy- devices and apps.
chologist We chuckle heartily at a silent Instagram
Martin Selig- screen. Track our steps and watch our heart-
man of University of Pennsylvania defines beats. Receive reports about disrupted circa-
happiness as a state made up of positive dian rhythms and elevated blood pressure.
emotions, positive engagement and a sense The phone pings with more solutions: new
of meaning. cars to take you further than ever, mas-
His research birthed a new field of study: sagers, loungewear, free miles on new credit
Positive psychology, born of the idea that this cards, shoes to take you running.
branch of medicine need not focus only on
illness and dysfunction. It could also aid
humans in their search for well-being
and fulfilment.
L akme had a campaign in the early 1980s
that went: Looking Good and Feeling
Great with Lakme. L’Oreal has:
Long before this, in 1970, molec- Because You’re Worth It.
ular biologist Jon Kabat-Zinn Today, Cult.fit has a Super-
pioneered secular mindfulness mind level that promises men-
training with the Mindfulness tal, physical and spiritual well-
Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) being, through a mobile app,
programme born at University of with guided meditation, sleep
Massachusetts and since deployed stories, breathwork and home
around the world. workouts.
I got a taste of it while enrolled in Trekking, sailing, deep-sea
Harvard Business School’s advanced diving are all being reimagined
management programme in as self-care. The industry has
2014. Mindfulness training grown wings.
there involved lectures, medita- I have a friend who, every
tion sessions and exercise. (The two weeks, follows an elabo-
dozen-plus participants from rate ritual at his club: haircut,
India, who had been brought massage, sauna and steam,
up on a heavy dose of medita- then home to snooze for two
tion did not find this of great hours. Another friend

w interest, but for the others

from 50+ countries, it was an
“aha” moment.)
Amid the growing the strain of
spends two weeks at a spa
resort each year. He calls it
his “recharge” routine.
The popular series White Lotus is
our eternal-growth economies, set in resorts that similarly help
alongside terms such as “work- one pander to the self and
life balance” and “wellness”, unplug, even confiscating all
such practices came to define devices at check-in (with cha-
“self-care”. otic results that drive the
READ: This is The pressures have only show’s plot, in a telling com-
us: How the intensified since. Amid grow- ment, each season, on the
nuclear family ing anxieties and uncertain- state of our lives today).
changed the ties, paired with 70- and The truth is that the need for
world. By Ambi 80-hour workweeks, efforts self-care is deep-rooted and gen-
Parameswaran have intensified to beat back the uine, as stress levels rise rather
stress. This has, perhaps inevitably, than levelling out in the workplace
locked into the hypercapitalism that and the world, and as the threat of
underpins our world — with the AI adds to the sense of uncer-
odd result that self-care has tainty. We crave a sense of { TIME SHARE } WHO GETS TO DECIDE?
become competitive, perform- control and empower-
ative and tied to con-
sumption.
New offerings range
ment, and the experience
of everything being “okay
enough” to relax.
Class, gender, race: The politics of self-care
from exorbitant gym I expect that companies
memberships that that already offer wellness Anesha George tones amid the civil rights movement of the service and utility.
come with a range of packages, counselling, 1960s in the US. The Black Panther Party Activists such as Angela Davis and Ericka
[email protected]
accessories and ingesti- health checks and gym advocated taking charge of one’s wellbeing Huggins championed yoga and meditation,
bles to dramatic treat- memberships to employees as a means of rebellion against a system that including while in prison, and later pro-
ments and aids: special will soon set up “positive t was Socrates who essentially said: sought to dehumanise and invisibilise the moted mindfulness practices at recreational
pillows and infrared blankets;
teas, apps, crystals in skincare; spa treat-
ments featuring caviar and diamond dust.
Increased affluence and better education
have raised awareness of mental health and
health” divisions, to help employees find
ways to keep going. Industries operating in
the wellness and self-care space will con-
tinue to expand their offerings and grow.
Anything that isn’t work will likely be
I Put your own mask on first.
A 4th-century-BCE book by his
pupil, Plato, describes how two Athe-
nian fathers sought Socrates out, looking for
advice on how to best educate their sons.
Black person in all contexts except those of centres in Black neighbourhoods.

this has added to the sense that we must “do rebranded thus, and monetised. Socrates redirected the conversation,
something”. Parents worry about their teens. My advice: Seek genuine human con- Plato notes, to the critical philosophical
Spouses worry about each other. nection, even if it is a weekly lunch at the question: How can we truly care for others
Companies worry about productivity and same local restaurant with the same group without caring first for ourselves?
make the right noises, though that is really of friends, or a quiet evening outdoors with It seems like a simple enough idea. Yet,
a book. particularly given how it can intersect with
If one can find a way to put down the devi- aspects such as feminism, motherhood and
TREKKING, SAILING, DEEP-SEA DIVING ces and stop being either product or con- race, the idea of self-care has always been a
sumer, that will mark a good start. Build a political one.
ARE ALL BEING REIMAGINED AS weekly calendar of coffees with a friend, As recently as the 1960s, mothers who left
SELF-CARE. THE INDUSTRY HAS walks with loved ones, time spent in quie- children in a playgroup or made time for a
GROWN WINGS... MY ADVICE: SEEK tude, pursuing a hobby or gentle activity. yoga class were seen to be rebelling (and
Now check the price tags. Which of the violating the idea of the mother as a selfless
GENUINE HUMAN CONNECTION. IF YOU options before you costs nothing, or costs the being), historian Lynn Abrams notes, in her
CAN FIND A WAY TO PUT DOWN THE least? Start there. Such a routine will be self- book Feminist Lives (2023).
DEVICES AND STOP BEING EITHER care enough for all of us. The idea took on radical, anti-capitalist
PRODUCT OR CONSUMER, THAT WILL (Ambi Parameswaran is a bestselling author, Luncheon of the Boating Party; 1881, by
MARK A GOOD START advertising veteran and independent brand coach. the French impressionist Pierre-Auguste
His latest book is Marketing Mixology) Renoir GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 Wknd Culture 11

culture
{ UNREAL } PAGE-TURNERS A quiet revolution
Dark wellness: The exquisite Marathi movie Sabar Bonda marks the rare mainstream release of a queer
film in India. Dhrubo Jyoti traces the story to its roots, and looks back at how we got here

Fiction traces
grim extremes
Anesha George
[email protected]

irst there was #ThatGirl, with her

F eucalyptus-scented mists, Stanley

cup full of green juice and massages
that doubled as workouts. The aes-
thetic went viral on social media in 2021 and
was criticised for promoting unattainable
Bhushaan
Manoj and
Suraaj
Suman as
the friends-
ideals of perfection in the guise of self-care. turning-
#ThatGirl was succeeded by #CleanGirl, a tentative-
minimalist focused on self-improvement. lovers Anand
This can become a relentless quest too. and Balya.
The dark side of the drive to be the best ver- ‘About 10%
sion of oneself has lately spawned a new sub- of the film is Dhrubo Jyoti only struck down in 2018. In addition to the
genre of literary fiction. It’s called “dark well- drawn from fear of judgment and possibly violence, the
ness”. Take a look. my life,” says [email protected] fear of harassment and blackmail simmered
director under the surface of queer lives.
The hidden costs of bliss: Rohan n 2016, Rohan Kanawade lost his So much has changed.

I
One of Our Kind (2024) Kanawade father. As the extended family gath- Buoyed by a new generation and shifting
Public defender Jasmyn (below). ered in their village in Ahmednagar, social mores around the turn of the millen-
Williams has just moved to Maharashtra, to mourn the passing nium, queer movies, many of them helmed
Liberty, a Los Angeles suburb of this man who had worked as a by queer directors, have freed such stories
alive with Black culture, in chauffeur and built a life in Mum- from the slapstick closet, exploring instead
the bestselling Jamaican- bai, speculation swirled about why his themes of family and illness (My Brother…
American writer Nicola 30-year-old son was not yet married. Every Nikhil; 2005), art and loneliness (Arekti Pre-
Yoon’s novel. With its grand day, someone accosted him to ask, Kanaw- mer Golpo; 2010), relationships (Kapoor &
museum, peaceful streets and ade says. Sons; 2016), violence and class (Aligarh;
luxurious wellness centre, It was becoming unbearable, but he 2015), childhood (Daaravtha; 2015), hyper-
Liberty seems to deliver on its wasn’t sure he wanted to stir the pot. “My linked destiny (Super Deluxe; 2019) and
promise of utopian living. But mother had lost her partner. She needed rel- caste (Geeli Pucchi; 2021).
Williams soon discovers a atives. I wasn’t sure how they’d react if I The Kashish film festival, held in Mumbai
community fixated on self-care, came out.” since 2010, and a clutch of others that fol-
raising questions about the price of living in Amid the rituals that mark the end of life lowed, offer to independent filmmakers still
such a bubble. in rural India, the interior designer-turned- struggling to fund their vision a toehold.
What does it really take to pursue lives of short filmmaker found himself drifting, Kanawade himself made 30 short films over
such relaxation? Watch out for broader and thinking of escape. What if he had a a decade before he could put together the
themes of systemic racism, surveillance and friend in the village? Could he have snuck team for this first feature.
the hidden costs of a realised utopia. out for a few moments of respite, a “I started making short films in 2007. The
jaunt, some laughter? From that vor- writing came first, and took a long time.
Memories fade, reality begins to tex of emotions emerged the idea That became my film school,” he says.
blur: Rouge (2023) that became Sabar Bonda (Cactus At the back of his mind was a movie that
“We smile while our Pears), now playing in theatres, shifted the gaze out of India’s cities and
faces burn, we love it so. marking the rare mainstream explored the heartbeat of queerness in the
Because we know magic release of a queer film in India. interiors. Capturing this on screen would be
is happening, just like in The 116-minute feature opens at tricky, he knew. Gazes are shy, words are
a fairy tale.” By the time the deathbed of the protagonist’s left unspoken and the vocabulary is largely
these words are spoken father, and follows Anand (played by missing. Hence, in Sabar Bonda, Balya asks
by the book’s protago- an exemplary Bhushaan Manoj) and his Anand if he had a “khaas mitr (special
nist, the skincare- mother Suman (Jayshri Jagtap) as they friend)” in the city. Balya’s singlehood,

v
obsessed shop girl Mira- travel from Mumbai to the arid interiors, meanwhile, is justified as a consequence of
belle Nour, she has where an encounter with the son’s child- the dwindling sex ratio in the region.
already been ensnared hood friend Balya (Suraaj Suman) changes Kanawade doesn’t force the issue, letting
by the cult-like La Mai- his life. queerness unfurl at the same unhurried
son de Méduse spa and its The languid storytelling explores queer- pace as life. “When my friends spoke about
promise of ageless beauty. ness through the tense, tentative embrace of my ex, they wouldn’t say boyfriend, they
Nour only begins to visit after the mysteri- two men trying to build a fragile connection would say ‘your special friend’. When
ous death of her mother, who was a lifelong in a world often stacked against people like Anand’s mother speaks to him, it is natural
client. She now wants the treatments and them. “I would say about 10% of the film is she will not use the word ‘gay’,” Kanawade
lotions that kept her mother so youthful. She drawn from my life,” says Kanawade, 39. says. His film stays true to the liminal
keeps returning for them, even as her memo- WATCH clips The gentle romance, which won a World nature of such queer existence.
ries fade and reality begins to blur. A marvel- from the film Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Grief and longing linger at the edges of
lous work by the Canadian Mona Awad. Sabar Bonda Film Festival in February, is the latest in a every frame, but the storytelling is not over-
string of queer-themed movies and shorts powered by either sorrow or sexuality.
How far would you go to ‘matter’?: made in India over the past decade; a Kanawade spent three years casting the
Natural Beauty (2023) marked shift from decades gone by. main characters — most of whom are Mara-

v
What is dark wellness When Prem Kapoor made Badnam Basti thi theatre actors doing their first film —
without a bit of body horror? in 1971, based on the renowned Hindi writer even as many baulked at the queer story arc
Natural Beauty, the debut Kamleshwar’s debut novel, Ek Sadak Satta- and scenes of male intimacy.
novel by violinist and writer van Galiyan, which featured a relationship Kanawade was certain he wanted to
Ling Ling Huang, won a between two women, the movie tanked. depict male intimacy, and pushed back
Lambda Literary Award and In 1996, when Deepa Mehta’s Fire pre- against a poignant but tragic ending, a sta-
was longlisted for a PEN / sented a searing portrayal of love between ple for independent cinema. “I wanted ten-
Hemingway prize. two women, it sparked violent protests and derness but not tragedy. I wanted to reimag-
In it, the unnamed protag- eventually a ban. In a milieu in which queer ine how queer characters end up; not as
onist, a piano prodigy and and trans characters were used largely for tropes but as normal people trying to build
the child of Chinese immi- WATCH Rohan comic relief or a tragic side-arc, any depic- a life,” he says.
grants, sacrifices music to Kanawade and tions imbued with dignity was deemed out What’s next? He is still soaking up the
work at a wellness store, in Rana Daggubati of step with the values of Indian society. praise from his debut feature, Kanawade
order to better support her discuss the film Same-sex acts were, of course, still a says, laughing. “Who knows? I’d love to
ailing parents. crime under a colonial-era law that was make a movie about dinosaurs.”
Despite its appalling treatments, which
involve bloodsucking fish and spider silk, the
job gives her a sense of belonging to some-
thing that “matters”. Brace for a grisly satire { SOUND BITES } above water.
on what it can take to feel significant in Rye, meanwhile, is a stealthy assassin.
America. Swetha Sivakumar In its early stages, this plant leaks chemi-
cals called benzoxazinoids into surrounding
A modern-day miracle: The Museum
of Human History (2023)
Just off the coast of a
Rice, with a side soil. These act as botanical herbicides, pre-
venting rival seeds (pigweed, lamb’s quarters
and a range of others) from sprouting. Rye is
dystopian city, a bio-
tech company named
Genesix is mining rare
of weaponry so effective that some farmers mow the plant
into their soil before planting their crop.
Maize plays a different game. It now has a
red algae to develop an reputation for guzzling water and requiring
While Halbert L Dunn, head of the US anti-ageing treatment. Plants are master strategists. Even the vast stores of fertiliser, but some wild varie-
P National Office of Vital Statistics, published
a book titled High Level Wellness in 1961,
Their first few experi-
ments fail. A cloned
staples on our plates include quiet ties in Mexico once carried their own fertilis-
ing gel: a sticky, sugary substance that oozed
Radical self-care involves the movement caught on from 1979 mammoth and the assassins, stealthy amphibians. Take a look from their aerial roots.
onwards, when journalist Dan Rather began first human patient The gel housed nitrogen-fixing bacteria
choosing with whom... to promote it on his news programme 60 both die. e tend to think of the plant that enriched soil. Sadly, these varieties have
we engage such that we
can be unapologetically
ourselves.
Minutes. “Wellness is really the ultimate in
something called ‘self-care’,” Rather said.
This was already becoming an idea linked
to capitalism. With the right self-care, it was
said, one could be more productive, realise
Then an eight-year-
old ingests the algae while
drowning, and shows the company
another way forward. For 25 years, the child
remains in a coma — but does not age. Is this IMAGES:
W kingdom as passive, and the
animal kingdom as the aggres-
sive one.
The truth is, plants are master
strategists. Even the staples on our
faded, as farmers selected instead the types
of maize that grew fastest and yielded
the largest cobs. Scientists are now try-
ing to breed this capability into mod-
ern corn. If they succeed, it could elimi-
DONNA J NICOL AND JENNIFER A one’s “full potential”. what a modern-day miracle would look like, ADOBE STOCK dinner plates, from rice and rye to nate the need for added fertiliser, reduc-
YEE, in the essay Reclaiming Our Time (2017) Products were soon folded into the for- asks author Rebekah Bergman. The book barley, maize and quinoa, have a ing the carbon footprint of the crop
mat, with magazines and journals offering won a Philip K Dick special citation in 2024. range of hidden skills. dramatically as a result.
advice on everything from the right kind of Imagine, for instance, being Quinoa has a secret weapon too:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. running shoes to the newest superfoods. A forced mission: The locked underwater and needing to breathe. the saponins that form a bitter coating on its
It is self-preservation, and that is an act of The growing commercialisation of self- Goddess Effect (2022) That’s the everyday challenge for certain seed. Birds hate it. Bugs hate it. Even humans
political warfare,” activist and writer Audre care does come with a silver lining, says his- Anita, an Indian-American varieties of rice. Most plants would suffocate can expect a mild stomach ache if they eat
Lorde wrote, in an essay in 1988. torian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, author of new to Los Angeles, signs up in a flooded field. Paddy, particularly suscep- quinoa without washing off these chemicals.
Self-care, in the Black context, extended Fit Nation (2022). It is now almost a cliché to at a fitness studio that prom- tible to weeds, evolved to flourish in Supermarkets today tend to sell “sweet” or
to finding ways to cope with systemic talk about the emotional, cognitive and ises renewed purpose. such conditions instead, since the pre-washed quinoa. The saponins washed off
injustice. “Radical self-care involves... social benefits of mindfulness, while just The Goddess Effect is run standing water suffocated weeds the grain are then repackaged and sold to
choosing with whom... we engage in our decades ago such ideas were seen as fringe by lifestyle guru Venus, and and left them with less competi- farmers as a natural insecticide.
nested, interconnected worlds such that we and even subversive. she does provide Anita with tion for nutrients in the soil. It has even been found to control the vora-
can be unapologetically ourselves in the Another defining characteristic of the direction. But that’s not all Over time, paddy evolved a spe- cious golden apple snail, which can decimate
face of unrelenting pressure and expecta- rise of self-care has been the centrality and she gives her; and her fee isn’t cial tissue called the aerenchyma, rice crops. In field trials, a quinoa-based nat-
tions to be otherwise,” as academicians agency of the individual, she points out. all she wants to take. which is made up of tiny air tunnels that ural pesticide slashed populations of the
Donna J Nicol and Jennifer A Yee put it, in This has been both empowering and Anita soon realises the stu- run from its above-water leaves golden apple snail, without harming the fish
their essay Reclaiming Our Time (2017). troubling. On the one hand, it has allowed dio is using mysterious and to its submerged roots. in the water around the crop.
people a more active role in their own well- invasive treatments to enhance the bodies Some deepwater varieties Something to think about, the next time
Healing without help being. The flipside, of course, is that staying and lives of its premium members. even come with SNORKEL one is standing before a green field. There’s
By the 1980s, two new movements were well has become understood as the respon- This creepy adventure by Sheila Yasmin genes (that’s their real name). plenty going on, after all, between the leaves.
gaining momentum that would serve as a sibility of the individual, even in a world of Marikar explores the blurred boundaries When floodwaters rise, these
boost to the idea of self-care as an essential great inequality. between empowerment and subjugation, genes trigger a growth spurt, (To reach Swetha Sivakumar with questions or
component of modern living. The ideas Policy, and experts, have a vital role to within the cult-like milieus of certain parts of sending the stem shooting feedback, email [email protected]. The
were work-life balance and wellness. play. We mustn’t forget that, Petrzela says. the wellness industry. upward, keeping the leaves views expressed are personal)
12 BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

wknd urban

(Clockwise from extreme

left) Government offices in
Liberia, India, France, Yemen
and Siberia. The series on
bureaucracy in India won a
World Press Photo award.
PHOTOS: JAN BANNING

Paper { TRADE-OFFS } STEAMY SECRETS

Spilling the tea: What should we

trail
A Dutch photographer spent five years this is also a world that no longer exists. This
project and these books are now a record of
grow, in this era of oversupply?
Mridula
Ramesh
were just coming in. Tea existed only in the
fringes. Hunters were fighting for the preser-
vation of forests while planters, who were
slowly getting better-organised, wanted
more land to plant,” says Vaibhav Ramani, a
capturing life in government offices, across

R
a simpler world, a time when outsiders were eality #1: A global superpower PhD scholar at Ashoka University research-
eight countries on five continents. There are not viewed with as much suspicion, not even is fuming over a trade deficit ing the environmental history of this region.
in government offices. A world in which and scrambling to even the In the following decades, disease and low
glimpses from Siberia, Patna, parts of the US. cameras were not viewed with suspicion. scales. coffee prices pushed more planters to tea.
In most countries, we were considered Reality #2: It is also trying Steadily, grasslands and sholas ceded ground
In Liberia, there was such poverty, employees completely harmless. Today, just getting the to steal trade secrets from the to new plantations. Look at satellite views of
had to bring in their own desks. There’s a permissions in many countries would be other country. the region today and one sees how the forest
next to impossible. Reality #3: An opioid epidemic is raging. has been supplanted. One significant fallout
lot hidden in each frame, Jan Banning says This isn’t America-and-China today; it’s of this takeover: rising human-animal con-
What were some of the most surpris- actually Britain-and-China, in the 18th and flict, with Gudalur in Tamil Nadu now a hot-
Madhusree Ghosh ing things you saw, in these offices? 19th centuries. And the object at the heart of spot of elephant encounters. Do we make
There were stark economic differences. In it all: Tea. way, or should they?
[email protected] parts of Bolivia, the police didn’t even have When Catherine of Braganza wed Charles
vehicles. The homicide squad in Potosi, II in 1662, she introduced tea into the English hat is the point of this history lesson?
W

J
an Banning, 71, has a new photo- Bolivia, would travel to crime scenes by bus. court. What started as a royal indulgence First, nations have always used
book out, his 16th, titled Bureau- In some remote areas, the police were also soon cascaded through aristocratic house- bans and taxes in attempts to even out trade
cratics Revisited. breeding rabbits and chickens to add to their holds. Caffeine colonised England in differ- imbalances, and today’s actions are no differ-
The Dutch photographer’s pre- food because they got paid so little. ent ways. Coffee, as we saw in an earlier col- ent. Such measures can profoundly reshape

w
vious works have ranged, in In Liberia, there was so much poverty that power? Fear that we’d ridicule his country? umn, was consumed in coffee houses, spark- the world in unexpected ways for decades, if
theme, from war crimes, sex sometimes there was only one chair, or offi- Whatever the reason, he did eventually sign. ing intellectual debate among men, but tea… not centuries.
crimes and the aftermaths of gen- cials had bought their own desks. You could tea was feminine, consumed in a leisurely Second, markets are a powerful, enduring
ocide to effects of World War 2. see “Private Property” written on these desks. What stood out for you in India? upper-class ritual. force that spur innovation in the quest for
This one picks up where his sixth We chose Bihar because we didn’t want to By 1706, Thomas Twining had bought lower prices, but they tend to neglect or
book, Bureaucratics (2008; co-au- What countries were the hardest to go to any country’s capital, where systems Tom’s Coffee House in London and started abuse what is not priced. Thus, our biggest
thored with journalist and writer Will Tinne- secure permission in back then? are generally more organised. We got in selling readymade tea alongside coffee, and policy failure today is failing to adequately
mans), left off, capturing stirring portraits of There were various levels of difficulties for touch with a social scientist in Patna, then tea leaves to upper-class households. price nature’s ecosystem services, especially
bureaucracy in eight countries across five each country. China was a nightmare, I think through a common connection. Meanwhile, the British East India Company water, biodiversity and soil carbon.
continents: Bolivia, China, France, India, because people there were intent on making When we reached his house, he began to (EIC), reeling from the 1720 ban on textile Tea has other lessons to offer, particularly
READ: Grounds
Liberia, Russia, the US and Yemen. sure their country was presented only as they draw on a blackboard in his back garden, imports, stepped up imports of commodities in an era of oversupply.
for hope: Coffee
The book and its sequel offer a dramatic wanted it to be presented. diagrams to help us understand the Indian such as raw cotton, sugar and tea. (Inciden- Wherever tea arrived, it was initially seen
could help make
take on how governments present them- It also took very long to figure out how to bureaucratic system. tally, Indian sugar was the world’s first fair- as a medicine. As British prime minister
our soil, planet
selves to citizens. Shot over five years, from get permission in the US, but then in the end After about 15 minutes, he was completely trade product, marketed as such because it William Gladstone put it: “If you are cold, tea
healthier, says
2003 to 2007, his subjects range from chief it turned out to be very simple: Each individ- lost. He had no idea where he was or how to was produced without slave labour.) will warm you; if you are heated, it will cool
Mridula Ramesh
secretaries in ornate offices to lowly clerks ual civil servant is the one to give permission. continue anymore! That’s what made India High taxes and the EIC monopoly kept tea you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if

p
with just a makeshift desk to their names. In the stunningly beautiful Yemeni capital special; there’s utter chaos. prices so high that this fomented colonial you are excited, it will calm you.”
“My experience in India is something I will of Sana’a, we found ourselves, four mornings We eventually headed to the Old Secretar- resentment, which erupted as the Boston Tea He was onto something. Tea is a rich
never forget,” he says. in a row, stuck to leatherette cushions in the iat. The front entrance was flanked by two Party, when American revolutionaries source of polyphenols (EGCG in green tea;
Excerpts from an interview. office of the PR manager at the ministry of guards, so our contact took us through the boarded British ships in the Boston Harbor theaflavins in black tea). These plant com-
information. The deputy minister refused to back entrance, which was unguarded. And in 1773 and dumped 342 chests of tea into the pounds are powerful antioxidants that help
Why revisit Bureaucratics? sign our travel permits. A simple display of we were in, just like that. We got permission sea. It was a protest against high taxes set by reduce inflammation and protect both cells
Civil service offices are places to shoot there, and we later shot in other dis- a parliament that contained no representa- and organ systems such as the brain.
where the government presents tricts such as Jehanabad and Kishanganj too. tion from the colonies. Its mental-health benefits are substantial.

w
itself to its citizens, using sym- In one office there was a sort of typewriter A few years later, Britain finally slashed A long-term study found that drinking at
bols and paraphernalia to graveyard. We were told that the typewriters taxes, turning tea into a staple. The English least half a cup of green tea daily was associ-
CHECK OUT showcase their power. At the were waiting for people. About 40% of the love of this beverage, however, led to a mas- ated with a lower risk of depression and
a slideshow of same time, these offices are a department’s positions were vacant. In 2004, sive drain of silver to China, which was then dementia. In another experiment, healthy
more images kind of communal living space the photo series on the bureaucracy in India the world’s sole supplier. To address this, EIC men given black tea recovered faster from
from the for those who spend a signifi- won a World Press Photo award. used two approaches. stress and showed lower cortisol levels than
photobook cant portion of their time there First, it forced more “even” terms of trade those who drank a caffeinated placebo. Yet
— whether working or not. This You said Russia offered surprises too. by flooding China with Indian opium. As another report showed that EGCG boosted
reflects in some of the persona- As in India, the officials in Russia were Bengal’s opium production grew (revenues brainwaves while leaving people calmer.
lised backdrops. very forthcoming, in 2004. I don’t think that soared 52-fold between 1791 and 1840), prices Tea may protect against cancer. Cell cul-
But what’s interesting is that would be the case now. After getting permis- ONLY ON THE collapsed, turning the drug into a mass prod- ture and animal studies strongly support
sion, we photographed offices in Tomsk WEB: As the uct that devastated Chinese society. this, and while epidemiological and human

P Oblast in Siberia, in the dead of winter.

What surprised us was the extreme pov-
women’s world
cup begins,
Rudraneil
Punitive action by China against drug
dealers only led to war.
studies remain less conclusive, one study of
164,000 Chinese men found that regular
erty in the villages. When we went, tempera- In the second approach, the Company sent green-tea consumption was associated with
My experience in tures were at -20 degrees Celsius in Siberia. Sengupta a botanist, Robert Fortune, to steal China’s an 8% to 21% lower risk of cancer-related
India is something Many people had left to search for a better writes on the
early years of
secrets. As journalist Sarah Rose writes in death. Another large European study found
life in the cities, and the remaining ones her 2009 book, For All the Tea in China, “Tea that men drinking more tea — peaking at
I will never forget. sometimes used the wood from those aban- women’s met all the definitions of intellectual prop- three cups daily — saw lower mortality from
doned houses for fuel. It was hard to even cricket in India erty: it was a product of high commercial cancer, heart attacks and indeed all causes.
JAN BANNING, photographer
witness that level of poverty. value, manufactured using a formula and Well-controlled human studies could lead
process unique to China, which China pro- to stronger prescriptions. Sadly, scientists
tected fiercely, and which also gave China a believe that inexpensive fixes like green tea
vast advantage over its competitors.” are too cheap to justify the high costs of such
And so, Fortune ventured forth to steal research, with funding allotted instead to
tea, with innovation laced into his guile. He potentially exorbitant cancer treatments.
{ THE WAY WE WERE } relied on sealed, portable terrariums called With the evidence in hand, could Indians,
Wardian cases (invented by the English doc- grappling with mental health, metabolic and
Poonam Saxena tor Nathaniel Ward) to transport thousands cancer crises, simply include more green tea
of plants and seeds from the highlands of in their daily lives? Would this work in the
China to the mountains of India. land of masala chai and black tea?
Insider exclusive “The Himalayas provide perfect terroir for
tea, as if God had always intended it to grow
there,” Rose writes. Here’s why: The tea plant
Maybe. Consider that the tradition of aft-
ernoon tea only arrived with British women.
The Tea Association, dealing with rising sup-
Ba***ds of Bollywood, with its entertaining (really a tree) needs well-drained soils such ply, then saw the potential of the Indian mar-
as that found on mountain slopes, a cool cli- ket and began to actively promote their prod-
take on the movie industry, made me wonder mate, seasonal rainfall, and not too much uct, first at railway stations, then by institut-
sun. Precisely the conditions found in China ing the now-ubiquitous “tea break”, in
why there aren’t more films about movie- (where Camellia sinensis sinensis comes factories and offices.
making. We do have some classics, and some from) and Assam (birthplace of the Camellia So, we can be nudged.
sinensis assamica). I have recently added two cups of green
delightful capers. Here are my top picks Over time, Fortune’s Chinese tea was tea to my black coffee and tea regimen.
interbred with the Assamese variety to birth There is the climate to consider too.
s I came to the end of Aryan some of the variants we drink today. Darjeel- Assam, the largest producer of Indian tea,

A Khan’s entertaining The Ba***ds

of Bollywood, I found myself
thinking back to all the movies
set in the Hindi film industry.
Films about films haven’t been as popu-
himself). Her uncle eventually asks Dhar-
mendra himself to help rid her of her inten-
sifying infatuation. We are treated to cam-
eos by Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and
ickshaw driver and Sanjana Kapoor as an
ethereal actress named Roopa. He turns up
on the fringes of a set in his hometown of
Hyderabad, falls in love with her at first (Below) Tea
ing tea is essentially the Chinese variety,
Assam tea is the Assamese variant, and
English Breakfast is a mixture of teas, lean-
ing more on the latter.
is experiencing hotter and drier weather,
punctuated by torrential downpours. The
changing climate, deforestation and poor soil
health are intensifying pest attacks like the
devastating greenfly infestation, which can
lar with directors as one would expect, Pran, all playing themselves. The plot is sight, and goes on to save her from the lewd pluckers at lucking tea is hard work. Only the top halve yields in affected plantations.
which is puzzling, given the immense possi-
bilities. I imagine that audiences, always
built around the simple message that the
world of movies is entirely make-believe.
advances of the hero (Kiran Kumar).
My final pick would be the frothy and fun
work in
Assam. It
P two leaves and the bud (with the most
polyphenols and amino acids) are used for
Adapting to this change requires a variety
of approaches: catching pest attacks early,
fascinated by how movies are made, would A year before Guddi, there was the rather Rangeela (1995), whose catchy songs and takes so many premium grades. Even with more leaves targeted plucking and pruning, biopesticides,
also be keen for an inside view. lacklustre Merchant-Ivory production Bom- liquid choreography were a sensation when fresh leaves to plucked for the lower grades, the average and shade forestry to buffer against climate
Perhaps such tales cut too close for com- bay Talkie, about a British novelist named the film was released. The plot follows Mili make a single worker can only harvest about 30 kg to 50 kg volatility and improve biodiversity and soil
fort. Or filmmakers prefer safer, tried-and- Lucia (Jennifer Kendal) in love with a star (Urmila Matondkar), a background dancer kg of black tea daily, amounting to only 6 kg to 10 kg of black health (which also helps stabilise soil during
true themes. Still, there have been Hindi named Vikram (Shashi Kapoor). This tedi- who wants to be a star, and her best friend, that the need tea. This fuelled massive historical migra- intense downpours).
films about the making of movies that have ous movie has little to do with the film the lovable tapori Munna (Aamir Khan), for labour has tions for plantation work, leaving behind sig- “Going organic brings higher prices,” says
made it to many critics’ top favourites lists. industry except for the innovative credits, in who is secretly in love with her, determined fuelled mass- nificant and lasting demographic scars. Karthik Jayaraman of Havukal, an exporter
Among the most recent and probably which billboards and posters are used to to help her, but risks losing her to the glam- ive historical Tea took root in India, expanding through of organic tea. However, as he points out, low
best-known (also the best of the lot) are great effect. And the fabulous opening our of her new world. The stock characters migrations. plantations in the Nilgiris and Sri Lanka domestic demand, sharply reduced yields
Farah Khan’s rollicking Om Shanti Om scene, in which Lucia is taken on a tour of a here include (again!) the overbearing (Top) A (where a fungus had decimated coffee plan- and rising labour costs currently make this
(2007) and Zoya Akhtar’s candid and per- studio and we see Helen (resplendent in mother (Shammi), declaring pack-up on a plantation tations) and transforming ecosystems. shift challenging. Import taxes and fertiliser
ceptive Luck by Chance (2009). gold) and a group of background dancers whim; the conflicted Bollywood hero (an sits amid a “In the 1860s and ’70s, the upper plateau of subsidies further muddy incentives.
I really liked Milan Luthria’s The Dirty practising their dance moves on the keys of intense, subdued Jackie Shroff); and the forest in the district was largely covered in forest — What would really move the needle, in this
Picture (2011) and Maneesh Sharma’s Shah a giant red typewriter. crude producer (Avtar Gill), clutching a tin China. PHOTOS: grassland and shola. Coffee was the main era of oversupply, is giving elements such as
Rukh Khan-starrer Fan (2016) too. My next pick after Guddi would actually of paan masala and telling everyone his new SHUTTERSTOCK crop. Exotics such as eucalyptus and acacias water, biodiversity and soil and biomass car-
But how about before all this? Well, the be Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Khamosh (1986). movie is bound to be a big hit and make bon a market price. Such pricing would help
trail begins with no less outstanding a work While it isn’t about the movie industry, I more than Rs 1 crore (yes, that made me farmers navigate the trade-offs of whether to
than Guru Dutt’s classic Kaagaz ke Phool love it for its audacious premise: a thriller smile too). go organic, switch to shade-coffee or indeed
(1959), a dark tale, told in black and white, set amid a film shoot. Amid the murder Ba***ds of Bollywood opens up a new rewild, in a way that balanced all interests,
of a life unravelling amid immense fame. mystery, it makes room for a number of typ- chapter, with its roast of the film industry, including those of natural ecosystems.
About a decade later, there was Hris- ical characters, including the lecherous pro- tempered by affection, innumerable hat-tips Failing this, we spiral into a world in
hikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi (1971), which ducer played by Ajit Vachani, and the pushy and in-jokes. What’s a movie you would like which the decision is forced upon us.
marked Jaya Bachchan’s Bollywood debut. mother (Sushma Seth) forcing her young to see made about the movies?
It’s a fan film that exudes a sweet innocence daughter into a career as an actress. (Mridula Ramesh is a climate-tech investor
at complete odds with today’s toxic celebrity Two years later came the Ketan Mehta‘s (To reach Poonam Saxena with feedback, and author of The Climate Solution and Water-
culture. Kusum, an impish schoolgirl, has a Hero Hiralal, with its unusual cast: Naseer- email [email protected]. shed. She can be reached on tradeoffs@climac-
giant crush on Dharmendra (who plays uddin Shah as a Bollywood-obsessed autor- The views expressed are personal) tion.net. The views expressed are personal)
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 13
World

Dozens killed in Gaza despite China hawk set to be

Japan’s 1st woman PM
Trump’s call for Israel to stop Agencies
[email protected]

TOKYO: A hard-line ultra-con-

servative and China hawk Sanae
Who is Sanae
Takaichi?
Reuters
Takaichi hailed a “new era” on A former economic security and
[email protected]
Saturday after winning the lead- internal affairs minister, she is
CAIRO/GAZA: Dozens were ership of Japan’s ruling party,
a vocal critic of China and its
killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza putting her on course to become
military build-up in the
on Saturday, local health offi- the country’s first woman prime
cials said, despite a demand minister. She has been a vocal Asia-Pacific.
from US President Donald critic of China and its military
Once a drummer in a college
Trump for Israel to stop bomb- build-up in the Asia-Pacific.
ing in response to a declaration The 64-year-old said that a heavy metal band, Takaichi looks
by Hamas that it was ready to “mountain of work” lay ahead to to the late British prime minister
free hostages under his plan to restore the fortunes of her ailing Margaret Thatcher as her
end the two-year-old war. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). political hero.
At least 36 people were killed The LDP has governed Japan
in bombardments and airstrikes almost uninterrupted for dec- Takaichi enjoys passionate
in the devastated Palestinian ades but it has been haemor- support in the conservative
enclave since Trump demanded rhaging support as backing wing of LDP and among
Israel halt its attacks late on Fri- grows for smaller parties, fellow followers of
day. including the anti-immigration assassinated ex-PM Shinzo
Eighteen people died in spo- Sanseito. Abe. She supports aggressive
radic incidents, while 18 people, Takaichi replaces Prime Min- monetary easing and big fiscal
including children, were killed ister Shigeru Ishiba as the party spending, echoing her political
and several others wounded in hopes to regain public support mentor’s “Abenomics” policies.
an Israeli strike on a house in and stay in power after major
the Tuffah neighbourhood in election losses. She has voiced strong concerns about
Gaza City, medics said. The Takaichi, an arch-conserva- crime and the economic influence of
attack damaged several build- tive who tempered her rhetoric foreigners in the country, calling for
ings nearby. in the LDP contest, will almost stricter rules — a move analysts say is an
Israel said it had targeted a certainly be approved by parlia- attempt to regain voters who fled from
Hamas militant who had posed ment later this month as Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a new
a threat to its troops in the area, fifth prime minister in as many nationalist party Sanseito with
and that reports of casualties years. She won a run off vote
anti-immigration messages.
were under review. “The IDF against the telegenic and more
regrets any harm caused to moderate Shinjiro Koizumi, 20
uninvolved civilians and works Pro-Palestinian demonstrators take part in a national protest for Gaza, outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Saturday. Supporters years her junior. “Rather than Together with so many of you, we have carved a new
to mitigate harm to uninvolved of the Global Sumud Flotilla took to the streets in several cities — including Barcelona, Dublin, Paris, Athens — following news that feeling happy right now, (I feel) era for the LDP. We must all pull together across all
civilians as much as possible,” Israeli forces had intercepted an international flotilla carrying aid seeking to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory. REUTERS real challenge lies ahead. I am generations and work as one to rebuild (the LDP)...
the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) convinced that there is a moun- Everyone will have to work like a horse.
said in a statement. Friday by saying it accepted cer- release and discuss a lasting Another possible boost to strikes hit the strip over the past tain of work we must tackle
—Sanae Takaichi, newly elected LDP leader
On Saturday, Trump said he tain key parts of his 20-point peace deal. peace hopes came with a sup- two years, creating a humani- together, pooling our efforts,”
appreciated that Israel had peace proposal, including end- Egypt will also host delega- portive statement from the Iran- tarian crisis and displacing mil- Takaichi said.
“temporarily stopped the bomb- ing the war, Israel’s withdrawal, tions from Israel and Hamas on backed Palestinian Islamic lions. “May the suffering lift off Koizumi, son of a former pre- Takaichi now faces a host of of the Japan-US alliance,” she
ing”, and he urged Hamas, the and the release of Israeli hosta- Monday to discuss the antici- Jihad group, which is smaller the people of Gaza, the people of mier and who was seen as more complex issues including an age- said. Takaichi stressed the
Palestinian militant group that ges and Palestinian captives. pated exchange of Israeli hosta- than Hamas but seen as more Gaza are among the oppressed progressive on social issues, ing population, geopolitical importance of their cooperation
controls Gaza, to move quickly But the group has left some ges for Palestinian prisoners, hardline. The group, which also of the earth, and any ray of hope would have been Japan’s young- upheaval, a faltering economy through three-way frameworks
on his plan “or else all bets will questions unanswered, such as the country’s foreign ministry holds hostages, on Saturday for the oppressed people is a est prime minister in the mod- and growing unease about that also include regional part-
be off”. “I will not tolerate delay, whether it would be willing to said in a statement. endorsed Hamas’ response – a victory,” said Sharif al-Fak- ern era and represented a gener- immigration. ners such as South Korea, Aus-
which many think will happen, disarm, a key demand from Hamas’ response to the plan move that could help pave the houri, resident of the occupied ational change for the LDP. First, however, she will have tralia and the Philippines,
or any outcome where Gaza Israel to end the war. drew a chorus of optimistic way for the release of Israelis West Bank city of Hebron. He and Takaichi went into the to ensure that the LDP, which pledging Japan’s greater role in
poses a threat again. Let’s get In Washington, a White statements by world leaders, still held by both parties. Netanyahu’s office said Israel run off after the moderate and has governed almost non-stop achieving a free and open Indo-
this done, FAST. Everyone will House official said on Saturday who urged an end to the deadli- Hamas’ stance, and its back- was preparing for “immediate highly experienced Yoshimasa since 1955, can rally voters again. Pacific. She said she respects all
be treated fairly!” Trump said that Trump was sending his est conflict involving Israel ing by Islamic Jihad, may raise implementation” of the first Hayashi, dubbed “Mr. 119” after Takaichi said ensuring the tariffs and investment agree-
on his Truth Social platform. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared since its creation in 1948 and the spirit of Gazans, who had stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for Japan’s emergency phone num- Japan-US alliance is her top dip- ments struck between Tokyo
Hamas had drawn a welcom- Kushner to Egypt to finalise the called for the release of Israelis watched one ceasefire effort the release of Israeli hostages ber, was knocked out along with lomatic priority. “It is essential and Washington under the Ish-
ing response from Trump on technical details of the hostage still held in the enclave. after another fail as Israeli following Hamas’ response. two other candidates. to ... confirm the reinforcement iba government.

{ MUSIC MOGUL } FOR PROSTITUTION-RELATED CRIMES

RUSSIAN STRIKE Pak courts US with pitch Egypt reopens ancient ruler’s tomb
HITS TRAIN STN IN
UKRAINE, 1 DEAD for port on Arabian Sea Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
KYIV: Two Russian drones
struck trains at a station in
Ukraine’s northern Sumy
region, killing one person and
Agencies
[email protected]
ister Shehbaz Sharif, held a meet-
ing with US President Donald
Trump at the White House in
gets 4 years in prison
injuring about 30 others, offi- LONDON: Advisers to Pakistani September. In that meeting, Sha- Agence France-Presse
cials said on Saturday, with army chief Field Marshal Asim rif sought investment from US
[email protected]
Ukraine’s foreign minister Munir have approached US offi- companies in the agriculture,
accusing Moscow of deliber- cials with an offer to build and technology, mining and energy NEW YORK : Sean “Diddy”
ately hitting passenger trains. run a port on the Arabian Sea, sectors for investment. Accord- Combs was sentenced to more
“A brutal Russian drone the Financial Times (FT) ing to FT, the offer was floated than four years in prison on Fri-
strike on the railway station in reported on Friday, citing a plan with some US officials, and was day for prostitution-related
Shostka, Sumy region,” Ukrain- seen by the newspaper. shared with Munir ahead of a crimes, capping a dramatic, all-
ian President Volodymyr Zelen- The plan envisages American meeting with Trump in the day court hearing during which
sky wrote on Telegram, posting investors building and operat- White House late last month. the music mogul apologised and
a video of a wrecked, burning ing a terminal to access Paki- A blueprint anticipated the begged for mercy.
passenger carriage and others stan’s critical minerals in the port would cost up to $1.2 billion Prosecutors had sought 11
with their windows blown out. town of Pasni, according to the with a proposed financing years behind bars for the Sean “Diddy” Combs AP
Russian drones and missiles FT. Pasni is a port town in Gwa- model that would be a mix of 55-year-old Combs, but District
also pounded Ukraine’s power dar district in the province of Pakistani federal and US-backed Judge Arun Subramanian At the end of it all, Subrama-
grid overnight into Saturday, a Balochistan, which borders development finance. It handed down a 50-month sen- nian had piercing words for
Ukrainian energy firm said, a Afghanistan and Iran. excludes “direct basing”, so as tence and a $500,000 fine. Combs — and poignant ones for
day after what officials Pasni is around 160km from not to serve as a US military Combs’s lawyers had urged the victims who testified during
described as the biggest attack Iran and 112km from the Paki- installation, but is seen as an the judge to sentence the hip- Combs’s trial. “We heard you,”
on Ukrainian natural gas facili- stani city of Gwadar, which has effort to rebuild and reframe hop star to 14 months, which the judge said in his statement
ties since Moscow’s all-out inva- a China-backed port. ties frayed over Pakistan’s sup- Visitors view the tomb THE TOMB OF PHAROAH AMENHOTEP III would effectively have been to the witnesses, who spoke in
sion more than three and a half The move comes after Munir, port for the Taliban during the of Amenhotep III, who Pharoah Amenhotep III’s tomb, one of the largest in southern Egypt’s Valley of time served since he has been excruciating detail of pro-
years ago. AGENCIES along with Pakistan’s Prime Min- US-led war in Afghanistan. ruled ancient Egypt the Kings and Queens, was officially opened to the public, after more than two incarcerated in Brooklyn for longed, coercive and devastat-
between 1390 BC and decades of renovation. Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minister, Sherif Fathy, more than a year. ing abuse at the hands of
1350 BC, in the Valley of unveiled the newly refurbished tomb, which dates back more than 3,000 years. Combs was acquitted by a Combs. “The number of people
Kings in the southern It was first documented in 1799 during the brief Napoleonic conquest of jury in July of the most serious who you reached is incalcula-
FRENCH PM PLANS city of Luxor, Egypt, on
Saturday. The tomb
Egypt. After a long history of excavation, looting and heavy damage, it was
restored with support from the Japanese government and Unesco.
charges against him — sex traf-
ficking and racketeering — but
ble,” he said in comments for
Combs’s former partners, who
NEW TAX ON PEOPLE starts with a 36m long, Carved into the hillside on the west bank of the Nile River opposite the city convicted of two counts of were not present. “You stood up
14m deep, downward- of Luxor, the tomb is “decorated with wall paintings that are among the most transporting people across state to power. It’s not easy.”
EARNING OVER sloping passageway exquisite of those surviving in the royal tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty”, lines for prostitution. The judge Subramanian said he was
€250,000 A YEAR beneath the Valley of
the Kings. It includes a
according to Japan’s Unesco mission.
Amenhotep III ascended the throne as a teenager and ruled for around four
on Friday allowed the defence
to present for hours on Combs’s
bound by the law to deliver a
sentence that met the gravity of
PARIS: French Prime Minister burial chamber for the decades of prosperity, stability and artistic grandeur before dying in 1349 BC at behalf, during which the dis- Combs’s “serious offences”
Sebastien Lecornu plans a tax king, and two chambers the age of 50. He was buried in the famed Theban Necropolis, where Ancient graced artist himself also gave which he said had “irreparably
targeting individuals with for his wives, Queens Egyptian kings, queens, priests and royal scribes were buried between the 16th an emotional address. harmed two women”.
annual incomes of over Tiye and Sitamun. AP and 11th centuries BC.

The new coin commemorates the country’s 250th independence

anniversary. U.S. TREASURY-X
€250,000 to try to win the
Socialist opposition’s backing
for his government’s 2026 state
A
l
US unveils design
budget, financial daily Les
Echos said on Saturday.
Les Echos reported that
Government, protesters reach Andrej Babis wins
Czech parl election
Police question 6 over
UK synagogue attack
Lecornu plans two measures,
each targeting taxpayers declar- agreement to end unrest in PoK PRAGUE: Populist Czech
billionaire Andrej Babis
LONDON: Police on
Saturday questioned six

for $1 Trump coin ing more than €250,000

($300,000) in income — or
€500,000 for a couple — to raise
Agencies
[email protected]
Pakistan government commit-
tee pledged more projects in
won a parliamentary
election on Saturday in a a
political comeback that put
people arrested on suspi-
cion of terror offences after
an attack on a synagogue
WASHINGTON: The US Treasury design has not yet been selected an additional €3 billion in fiscal health, education and other the country on a course in northwest England that
on Friday released a draft to commemorate the United revenue next year. MUZAFFARABAD: Protesters in public sectors, including 10 bil- away from supporting left two men dead and UK’s
design for a $1 coin featuring States’ semi-quincentennial, A first measure would be to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir lion Pakistani rupees ($35 mil- Ukraine and towards Jewish community shoc-
President Donald Trump to this first draft reflects well the renew a one-off tax introduced (PoK) ended days of deadly anti- lion) to upgrade local electricity Hungary and Slovakia, ked and grieving. Three
commemorate 250 years since enduring spirit of our country by predecessor Francois Bayrou government demonstrations on supplies. which have taken a pro- other men are hospitalized
the declaration of American and democracy, even in the face last year which aims to ensure Saturday after reaching an The government also agreed Russian path. AP with serious injuries. AP
independence in 2026. of immense obstacles,” a Trea- that all high-earning tax house- agreement with the govern- to investigate the violence and
The front of the potential sury spokesperson said. holds concerned pay at least ment, officials said. A telecom- vandalism during the protests, Anti-govt protest Iran executes six
design showed Trump in profile Beach said on X that more 20% of their income in taxes. munications blackout imposed including deaths on both sides.
with the word “liberty” above information would be shared The minority government by the government was gradu- Thousands of people took to rocks Maldives for links to Israel
him and “1776-2026” below, following the end of the govern- also wants to crack down on the ally lifted throughout the day, the streets of Muzaffarabad, the MALE: Police in Maldives TEHRAN: Iran executed six
according to images shared by ment shutdown, which has sus- super-wealthy’s use of holding an AFP journalist witnessed. capital of PoK, from Monday, arrested eight people people it accused of carr-
Treasurer Brandon Beach on X pended many federal opera- companies as a piggy bank, it The clashes left at least six A protester shows bullets demanding structural reforms during an overnight ying out attacks in the
and subsequently released by tions. said, as part of a drive against civilians and three police offi- allegedly fired by police as well as political and eco- protest on Friday accusing country’s south with support
Treasury. Debate quickly erupted on tax optimisation. cers dead. “The government has during a demonstration in nomic rights. the government of from Israel, the judiciary’s
The other side of the coin social media about the proposed Les Echos daily reported that agreed to our demands, and we Muzaffarabad. AFP “The politicians here behave corruption and Mizan news agency repo-
showed Trump holding a raised coin, given that the law specifi- the finance ministry had identi- are thankful to it,” said Shaukat like gangsters ruling over our curtailment of basic rted. Mizan described them
clenched fist framed with the cally says “no head and shoulders fied some 30,000 financial Nawaz Mir, a member of the federal ministers and shared heads; we want them gone and freedoms. The demon- as “separatist terrorists”,
words “fight, fight, fight” — a portrait or bust of any person, liv- structures that would fall within Awami Action Committee with the media, includes their privileges removed,” Asad stration was joined by alleging they were
reference to what he said imme- ing or dead, and no portrait of a the scope of the measure, nota- (AAC), the civil rights group pledges to reduce the size of the Tabbasum, a 51-year-old pro- former Maldives President responsible for shootings in
diately after surviving an assas- living person may be included in bly for cashing in dividends but that led the protest. cabinet and senior officials in tester, told AFP on Wednesday. Ibrahim Solih and former 2018 and 2019 that killed
sination attempt last year - and the design on the reverse of any never re-distributing them, so He confirmed the demonstra- the civil service. Protest organisers say more foreign minister Abdulla four members of the police
a flag in the background. coin” created to mark the US that dividend tax can be tion had been called off. According to a copy of an than 100 civilians were Shahid. AP and Basij militia. BLOOMBERG
“While a final $1 dollar coin anniversary. REUTERS avoided. REUTERS The agreement, signed by agreement seen by Reuters, a wounded in the unrest.
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BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025 15
Sport

Amid tension, Harmanpreet-led ‘Ambitious squad

pushing England’
India look to maintain grip vs Pak Samreen Razzaqui
[email protected]

NEW DELHI: “We’ve got four of

the best spinners in world
cricket.” Heading into their
The women’s team wickets) will play a big part men- opener at the Women’s ODI
tally as well for her.” World Cup, England coach Char-
have a 11-0 record lotte Edwards was in no doubt
and will start WHERE: Colombo WHEN: 3:00 PM (IST) Weight of history how good she felt her spinners
For Pakistan captain Fat- were for the campaign on South
favourites in ima Sana though belief Asian pitches. And on Friday,
Colombo today India aim to that her relatively inexperi-
enced side can defy history
is important. “Whatever
England’s fearsome bowling
attack came to life in Guwahati.
England put on quite the
Charlotte Edwards. REUTERS

tion will be a good headache for

Samreen Razzaqui
[email protected]

NEW DELHI: Every time India

stay in control records exist between India
and Pakistan are meant to be bro-
ken. It’s not that Pakistan will
bowling performance to skittle
South Africa for 69 — the second
lowest total at an ODI World Cup
us,” Edwards said in a virtual
interaction.
“From my experience coach-
Harmanpreet’s side are favourites to
and Pakistan face each other, never win against them,” she said. — and register a 10-wicket win. ing here, spin is always a major
the contest is rarely confined maintain their all-win ODI record vs “We believe in playing good The four-time champions factor even in T20s and WPL.
to the cricket field. The latest Pakistan as they meet in the World Cup cricket no matter who the oppo- climbed to the top of the stand- The spinners have worked hard
chapter in their intense nent is. So, we won’t think about ings with an excellent 3.22 net on changing pace, manipulating
rivalry, in the Women’s World history. We’ll focus only on the day run rate. fields and adapting to condi-
Cup in neutral Colombo on Sun-
day, comes after a week where off-
ODIs HEAD-TO-HEAD we play.”
She addressed the camaraderie
Spin had played its role at
Guwahati’s Barsapara stadium
tions.”
Edwards said that while
field controversies have taken cen- WORLD INDIA WORLD that shone through despite the in the tournament opener England are almost certain to
trestage. RANKING WON RANKING rivalry when Indian players inter- between India and Sri Lanka and play seven batters in the tourna-
India skipper Suryakumar
3 8 acted with Bismah Maroof and her it was expected to have a say in ment, she will follow a horses-

11
Yadav refused to shake hands with baby daughter during the 2022 the second game as well. Coming for-courses selection approach,
his Pakistan counterpart at the World Cup, but politely brought into the event, many spinners which was conveyed to the play-
toss during last month’s T20 Asia the focus back to the game at were expected to do well. How- ers especially during a camp in
Cup, a tournament that ended MATCHES PLAYED hand. “As players, we all like such ever, England, if the perform- Abu Dhabi.
with a bigger row over the win- moments but the main thing is to ance in their first game is any- “I’ve been drip-feeding ideas
ners’ trophy that is yet to be sorted.
It has only increased the scrutiny KEY PLAYERS stay focused on what we have
come here for,” Sana said. “Our
thing to go by, are making a case
as one of the best overall spin
along the way with different
playing groups during the sum-
ahead of the women’s tie. SMRITI MANDHANA (IND) SIDRA AMIN (PAK) main goal is to play, and our focus contingents. mer,” said Edwards. “Abu Dhabi
Already, former Pakistan cap- The prolific opener entered the The opener, 33, is Pakistan’s is only on the game. We try to keep In Guwahati, Linsey Smith set was particularly valuable. We
tain Sana Mir’s on-air reference to World Cup in rousing form. The in-form batter. With six ODI healthy relationships with every the tone and Charlie Dean and had 10 days together to refine
Kashmir and India’s decision to left-handed batter missed out 100s and 12 50s, she has scored team. Whatever comes in the Sophie Ecclestone played able our game plan, clarify how we
maintain the no-handshake rule in the inaugural game win over the most runs for her country spirit of the game, we try to main- support roles to run through the want to operate as a group and
has raised tension in the buildup Sri Lanka at Guwahati and will against India. After a first-ball tain that.” South African line-up as they set the tone moving forward.
to the clash. be keen to stamp her class duck versus Bangladesh, she Although both the team’s star shared five wickets. England’s “We’ve got real competition
Amid the noise, both teams against the rivals will be keen to make amends batters, Smriti Mandhana and strength is their variety — Smith for places and that’s something
insist that the focus remains firmly Sidra Amin, did not have the best is a slow left-armer, Dean is an that I wanted coming into this
on cricket. For India, that focus of opening games, the teams off-spinner, and Ecclestone, also role. There’s competition outside
comes from a position of sheer SNEH RANA (IND) NASHRA SANDHU (PAK) would be hoping for their in-form a left-armer, is the top ODI this group as well. We’ve formed
dominance. They have never lost The spin-bowling allrounder is back at the R The 27-year-old left-arm spinner is the batters to turn up for this high-oc- bowler. They also have all- a really competitive, nice envi-
to Pakistan in ODIs — a 11-0 record Premadasa Stadium where she was experienced bowler in Pakistan besides tane fixture. Pakistan spinner rounder Alice Capsey, who ronment and that’s really push-
spanning nearly two decades. Player-of-the-Tournament in a Triseries in seamer Diana Baig. She has played against Nashra Sandhu has taken six bowls off-spin. Not to forget that ing our standards forward.”
They also opened their campaign May. She hit 28* and took 2/32 in the WC India in two World Cups, and took four wickets against India, in two leg-spinner Sarah Glenn, who Three of England’s triumphs
with a reassuring victory over Sri opening game win over Sri Lanka scalps in the loss at Derby in 2017 World Cup games. Her 4/26 in the grabbed 5/32 in the warm-up came at home. Adding one in the
Lanka. 2017 World Cup loss is one of her versus Australia, is on the bench. subcontinent will be sweet,
Pakistan, on the other hand, memorable spells. Edwards, who has played 29 though Australia and India may
suffered a deflating seven-wicket big tournament like a World Cup, Amanjot Kaur seemed to have rani. “Coming into the tourna- ball to underline her form, she was Sunday’s clash comes amid ODIs, eight T20Is and one Test in have something to say about it.
loss to Bangladesh and now face the area of focus is only cricket,” missed practice. Amanjot played a ment, we have around 10 bowling Player-of-the-Series in the tri-se- political tensions spilling over into India, knows the conditions
the challenge of reviving their he said. “We want our girls to get starring role with the bat against options. It’s a long campaign and ries against Sri Lanka and South the commentary box and social fairly well. Her stint with Mum- Sri Lanka vs Australia
campaign against the hosts. their A game onto the day, and we Sri Lanka and her absence may we may need the services of any of Africa in Colombo in May. media. Competitive cricket can bai Indians — she coached them game washed out
On the eve of the match, India’s want them to take it just as a game, thus be down to workload man- them. Depending on the condi- Salvi stressed her importance. ensure the game takes centrestage, to two titles in three WPL edi- AFP ADDS: The Women’s World
bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi because it’s a long campaign. agement. India also have a varied tions, we will take a call on which “She is well-versed with this envi- but against a commanding Indian tions — has also added to her Cup clash between co-hosts Sri
maintained a composed tone, There will be a lot of games com- spin attack and it will be interest- spinners to play,” Salvi said. ronment and brings that confi- team, it’s up to Pakistan to deliver. knowledge of what an ideal Lanka and holders Australia in
making it clear that the team’s ing our way.” ing to see if India stick with the All-rounder Sneh could be a dence into the squad. She’s a qual- Fans will hope weather doesn’t squad dynamic should be at a Colombo was abandoned with-
approach will be measured and While pacer Renuka Singh sat same spin combination of Deepti player to watch out for. Not only ity bowler. I believe that particular play spoilspot. Rain is forecast for World Cup in the subcontinent. out a ball being bowled on Satur-

 

process-driven. “When you enter a out the opener, seam all-rounder Sharma, Sneh Rana and Sree Cha- did she deliver with the bat and series and the output she got (15 Sunday as well. “Picking the right combina- day because of persistent rain.


 
 
     

    
         
16 Sport
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

Rohit Sharma: A tactician, Jadeja spins India’s

crushing win vs WI
friend and guide as skipper Rasesh Mandani
[email protected]

AHMEDABAD: India bundled out

West Indies twice in 89.2 overs,
The 38-year-old is a dismissing the visitors for 146 in
the second innings on Saturday,
calm presence in the
dressing room. New PLAYED Rohit Sharma making their innings and 140-run
win that was completed in a little

56
over two-and-a-half days one of
ODI skipper Gill can
learn from his senior
as ODI skipper their most one-sided Test wins.
Away wins are the most sought
after. Winning at home is also an
He was appointed ODI skipper in art, demanding a methodical
Rasesh Mandani
[email protected]
December 2021 approach. It is one thing to design
pitch conditions to suit the home
AHMEDABAD: Rohit Sharma’s WON team’s needs. But for things to
early years in ODI cricket were a ACHIEVEMENTS pan out exactly the way they want
struggle, inconsistencies result-
ing in him being left out of the
2011 World Cup. The dejected
but determined young Mumbai
batter would take it as a catalyst
to improve. He would link up
with his Mumbai statemate
42
LOST
2018*
Asia Cup

Champions
2023
Champions
is among the imponderables in
cricket. For India, from choosing
the pitch with the right soil, judg-
ing the dampness of the surface,
trusting the weather app, and
then for the bowlers to land the
ball in the right areas with guile,
Ravindra Jadeja was named Player-of-the-Match. PTI

Abhishek Nayar, shed excess World Cup 2023 all needs to come together. make a match of it.
kilos, tighten up his game and
develop a burning desire to
make it big. It helped that he
was 24 then, with the prospects
of a glittering career to look for-
ward to if he put in the hard
yards.
12TIED
Runners-up

Champions Trophy 2025

Champions
Think of how special India’s
unbeaten winning streak at home
that lasted 4,331 days and 18 series
was, until New Zealand halted the
juggernaut in late 2024. No other
team has been there before. To try
doing it all over again would be a
SCORECARD
West Indies
India
West Indies
J Campbell c Sudharsan b
Jadeja
T Chanderpaul c Reddy b Siraj 8
162
448/5d

14
The visitors lost half their side
in the first session and the rest
folded up 90 minutes into the sec-
ond session. Jadeja (4/54), Kul-
deep Yadav (2/23) and Washing-
ton Sundar (1/18) did the bulk of
the damage. Siraj backed his first
*stand-in skipper
Fourteen years on, in the twi- tall ask. But India has made a A Athanaze c and b Sundar 38 innings effort with three more

1
light of his career, the Indian start in Ahmedabad. The select- B King c Rahul b Jadeja 5 wickets, finishing with 7/71. “I just
selectors have thrown him ors transitioned the team, picked R Chase b Kuldeep 1 think that we have to improve our
another challenge — by strip- a young captain, recalibrated the S Hope c Jaiswal b Jadeja 1 skill levels. And we’re not doing it
ping him of the ODI captaincy. strategy by departing from the J Greaves lbw b Siraj 25 for long enough periods. In Tests,
Rohit is left to prove his worth practice of playing on rank turn- K Pierre not out 13 you have to do it for five days. If
with runs, match after match, ers and things fell into place J Warrican c Gill b Siraj 0 you just do it for maybe one or
like his rookie days if he har-
bours an ambition to play
NR against a weak West Indies side.
Indian cricket strategists
J Layne c Siraj b Jadeja
J Seales c and b Kuldeep
14
2
two days, you’re not going to be
on top or even in the game,” West

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

1
another ODI World Cup that is would admit that the Caribbean Extras (b4, lb0, w0, nb1) 5 Indies skipper Roston Chase said.
two years away. Nayar, with team is a poor specimen to make Total (all out, 45.1 overs) 146 For the Indian spin attack to
whom Rohit has again linked up judgements. To be able to exploit FoW: 1-12, 2-24, 3-34, 4-35, 5-46, complete the formalities with
to get back to his best, believes some early morning moisture, 6-92, 7-98, 8-98, 9-122, 10-146 ruthless efficiency, playing for the
the former captain will give it a India declared on their overnight Bowling: J Bumrah 6-1-16-0, first time at home since R Ash-
go.
Rohit went on to become an INDIA’S SQUADS FOR TOUR OF AUSTRALIA score of 448/5. They were already
286 runs ahead and decided it
M Siraj 11-2-31-3, R Jadeja 13-3-
54-4, K Yadav 8.1-3-23-2,
win’s retirement, is a positive sign
for the future.
ODI great once promoted from would be enough. It proved more W Sundar 7-1-18-1. “I was playing a match in India
the middle order to opener. But
ODIs SCHEDULE T20Is SCHEDULE than adequate. without Ash for the first time, so
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Suryakumar Yadav (captain),
where he truly stood out for the 1st ODI 1st T20I Oct 29, Canberra Mohammed Siraj, who had sometimes I did find myself
Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill
team’s cause was with his lead- Oct 19, Perth picked up a four-for in the first Jadeja didn’t need any extra thinking, yeah, Ash will come on
(vice-captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish 2nd T20I Oct 31, Melbourne
ership skills. With an innate innings, his best show at home, assistance. He rolled over West and bowl, and then realising he
(wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar
ability to listen to teammates 2nd ODI was the one to open the flood- Indies top order just by inviting isn’t there,” said Jadeja about his
and help problem solve for play-
Reddy, Washington Sundar, Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun 3rd T20I Nov 2, Hobart gates in the second innings, with them to defend, which they failed long-time spin twin.
Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Oct 23, Adelaide Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah,
ers less skilled, Rohit used his 4th T20I Nov 6, Gold Coast a bouncer to Tagenarine Chand- miserably. With top order batters “In the future you will ask,
Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav,
man management and cricket-
Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel
3rd ODI Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk),
erpaul (8). His pull was lapped up unable to get the bat ahead of Jaddu isn’t here, and someone
ing acumen to deliver two ICC Oct 25, Sydney 5th T20I Nov 8, Brisbane at square leg by a flying Nitish their pads on front foot defence else will be there. This is inevita-
(wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
titles (2024 T20 World Cup, Reddy. The pitch was still playing and handing out the easiest of ble, and it will keep happening,
2025 Champions Trophy) — true and the rough was still open- catches to close-in fielders, the but it feels good to contribute to
next only to MS Dhoni’s three ing he was mature enough to It would be crucial though tone, it will be crucial that they ago, he was the toast of the ing up for spin, but Ravindra Windies were never going to the team.”
titles. Under him, India perhaps grow on his own. To other that the communication lines don’t lose their chemistry as a nation taking an open bus ride
delivered one of their most youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal are smooth and there isn’t any pair that has brought them all on the streets of Mumbai
complete performances in an and Sarfaraz Khan, Rohit would lingering hurt Rohit carries to the success — 2,124 runs, avg cheered by a sea of fans after the
ICC event, though they finished
runners-up in the 2023 ODI
World Cup.
take them under his wings and
even use a carrot-and-stick
approach to improve their path.
Australia, on having lost the job.
“It’s a conversation between me
and Rohit,” chief selector Ajit
68.51.
As ODI captain, Rohit’s well
documented batting transfor-
2024 World Cup. After that it
has mostly gone downhill. Even
at the Champions Trophy in
Vidarbha tighten grip vs Rest of India
During these consistent If Rishabh Pant’s unorthodox Agarkar said when asked if the mation from sedate innings Dubai, despite the win, Rohit’s Press Trust of India onto the backfoot. Seamer 35 with Darshan Nalkande (35),
years, watching with a keen eye but spectacular approach ex-captain had taken it well. builder who would explode at fitness did not inspire the select- Anshul Kamboj rocked Vidarbha as Vidarbha ensured their
[email protected]
was Shubman Gill, who has needed freedom to bloom, Rohit But Rohit is not the first the back end to a Powerplay ors. early with a superb three-wicket innings did not implode.
been named to succeed Rohit. allowed for that. If Kohli during player to have lost the crown dynamo complemented Gill. It “It tells you that nothing is NAGPUR: Vidarbha stayed firmly burst in successive overs. Wickets, however, kept tum-
Gill is already the Test captain his captaincy years instilled a and transitioned to play under allowed Gill to grow into his easy in life. One day you are on a in control of the Irani Cup, set- He first removed overnight bling at the other end, with Gur-
at 26 and has time on his hands drive in the team to excel, Rohit another captain. Kohli did that innings. It’s just that previously high, and one day you are not. ting Rest of India a stiff 361-run batter Danish Malewar (16) with noor Brar (2/41), Saransh Jain
to learn on the job. Rohit got full brought a tactical genius that very well under Rohit. “You are it was Rohit’s call which was the This is what I have learnt in my target before reducing them to the second ball of the day, then (2/52) and Manav Suthar (2/82)
time India captaincy quite late helped them cross the finish still playing for your country, best way for him. In future, life,” Rohit would say after 30/2 when rain forced an early accounted for Yash Rathod (5) in backing up Kamboj (4/34) to
at 34 and knew exactly what to line in big tournaments. The they are still leaders in that those decisions will be taken by India’s 3-0 home Test series close on the fourth day here on his next over before trapping bowl them out. Chasing the stiff
do, having won five IPL titles as decision to play Axar Patel as dressing room, you hope they consensus, and Gill will be defeat to New Zealand in late Saturday. opener Dhruv Shorey (27) lbw, target, Rest of India had their
captain. Gill can add layers to the extra spinner regularly on are,” Agarkar said about Rohit steering those conversations as 2024. Resuming at 96/2, the Ranji reducing Vidarbha to 105/5. task cut out on a deteriorating
his leadership skills with Rohit slow pitches during the 2024 and Kohli. he gets accustomed to leading Gill has begun brightly. From Trophy champions were bowled Skipper Akshay Wadkar (36) surface and overcast conditions.
by his side. T20 World Cup and use the all- Rohit will stay as opener and the seniors. Rohit’s lows and philosophical out for 232, but a handy first-in- held the innings together with Brief scores: Vidarbha 342 & 232
Gill would have observed rounder as a batting floater was partner Gill. As the two come For Rohit, it’s a late career musings, the younger leader nings lead of 128 gave the hosts his dogged resistance, adding 39 vs RoI 214 & 30/2 at stumps on
how Rohit left him alone, know- Rohit’s. out together to bat and set the reality check. Fifteen months can only absorb and improve. enough cushion to push RoI with Harsh Dubey (29) and later Day 4.

A
l ARSENAL GO TOP

Have fun
Russell on pole for AS MAN UNITED
Singapore GP EASE PRESSURE ON
SINGAPORE: George
Russell in a Mercedes
COACH AMORIM

with facts
took pole on Saturday Agence France-Presse
for the Singapore GP
[email protected]
ahead of Red Bull’s Max
Verstappen. LONDON: Declan Rice came back
Championship leader to haunt former club West Ham

on Sundays
Oscar Piastri will start as Arsenal moved top of the Pre-
third while his McLaren mier League while Manchester
teammate Lando Norris United handed Ruben Amorim
will start fifth. some relief with a 2-0 win over
Sunderland on Saturday.
Manish, Vaishnavi In Mikel Arteta’s 300th match
in charge, the Gunners proved
emerge winners far too strong for the struggling
NEW DELHI: Tamil
Nadu’s Manish
Hammers in a 2-0 win at the
Emirates Stadium to further
Catch the latest column of

A
Sureshkumar and their ambitions of a first Premier
Vaishnavi Adkar of League title for 22 years.
Maharashtra clinched Victory came at a cost for
the men’s and women’s Woman club thrower Ekta Bhyan (L) with her coach Amit Saroha. PCI Arsenal as captain Martin Ode-
singles titles in the gaard was forced off injured

Ekta, Soman lead surge in

Fenesta Open National before half-time for the third
Tennis Championships time this season.
here on Saturday. However, the strength in
depth now on offer to Arteta has A quiz on the week’s development.
Football official
NK Bhatia dies
NEW DELHI: Delhi’s
India’s best medal haul with a season’s best (18.60m). “I resolved tomorrow (Sunday),” a
made light of Arsenal’s injury
troubles.
Rice, who left West Ham for a
club record £105 million in 2023,
Shantanu Srivastava
veteran football won gold at the last Worlds and World Para Athletics official ended the visitors’ resistence by
administrator NK [email protected] was expecting a top finish here said. Rana was placed second on blasting high into the net on the
Bhatia died on Saturday as well. It was very hot today and the WPA website. rebound after Alphonse Areola
after prolonged illness. NEW DELHI: Ekta Bhyan failed to in our discipline thermo-regula- Armyman Rana was a parried Eberechi Eze’s drive.
He was 76. Bhatia was defend her World Champion- tion is a big challenge,” Ekta said. national level boxer. He lost his Bukayo Saka made the points
the vice-president of ships crown but logged a sea- The F51 category is for athletes right leg in a landmine blast in safe midway through the second
Football Delhi and had son’s best of 19.80m to take silver with impairment in the trunk, the Poonch sector of Jammu and half from the penalty spot after
held the post of in women’s club throw F51 to legs and hands. Kashmir in 2006. Jurrien Timber was brought
secretary of the lead India’s medal charge on Sat- Among Indians in shot put, After his recovery, he was down by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
erstwhile Delhi Soccer urday. Soman Rana’s bronze was Paris Paralympics bronze medal- assigned administrative duties. Arsenal edge one point ahead
Association. later upgraded to silver in men’s list Hokato Hotozhe Sema came However, his sporting ambitions of Liverpool, who are in action
shot put F57 with Praveen sixth (14.35m) and Shubham were renewed in 2017 after he got later at Chelsea.
Private security Kumar taking the T64 high jump Juyal (13.72m) seventh. a prosthetic leg at Pune’s Army Defeat leaves West Ham still
bronze. Three medals on the day Hangzhou Asian Para Games sil- Artificial Centre. There, Col Gau- languishing in the relegation
for Ashwin in BBL took India’s medal count to 18 (6 ver medallist Soman Rana, with rav Dutta, then head of the Army zone.
SYDNEY: R Ashwin will gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze). a season’s best of 14.69m, has Paralympic Node, introduced Amorim conceded on the eve
be provided private With this, 2025 edition has been placed in silver position as him to para sports. “I have the of Sunderland’s visit to Old Traf-
security with his BBL delivered India’s best ever haul at an appeal process is completed. national record of 15.02m. I know ford he needs results quickly to
franchise Sydney Para World Athletics. India won Rana was third but was I can add more to this mark. My avoid becoming the latest United
Thunder anticipating 17 medals in Kobe last year. upgraded after an appeal against target is to win gold in next year’s manager to suffer the sack.
an enhanced interest Ekta couldn’t surpass Brazil’s Thiago Paulino Dos San- Asian Para Games and hear the The Portuguese had taken just
from the Indian Ukraine’s world record holder tos by Saudi Arabia’s Haidr Sal- national anthem on the podium,” 34 points from his previous 33
diaspora during the Zoia Ovsii, who bagged gold with amh. Thiago, initially second, the 42-year-old said. Premier League games in
team’s training session a season’s best of 24.03m. All her was dropped to fifth. Paris Paralympics champion charge, but enjoyed a rare con-
at the Olympic Arena throws were over 23m. Russia’s However, the appeals process Praveen took bronze in high vincing win to give him some hindustantimes htTweets www.hindustantimes.com
ground. Ekaterina Potapova, competing is yet to end. “Shot put F57 has jump T64 event with a clearance breathing space over the inter-
as a neutral athlete, was third been appealed and will be of 2m. national break.
Sunday, October 05, 2025mnmEPAPER EDITION n4 PAGES. f @HTCITY t @HTCITY i @HTCITY y /USER/HT. ENTERTAINMENT & PROMOTIONAL FEATURES
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ RHEA_CHAKRABORTY PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM AND X

PHOTOS: YOGEN
SHAH AND X
STOP
PRESS

On Friday, Rhea
Chakraborty posted a
picture of her passport
after the Bombay High A warm reunion
City Bengaluru
Mandhira Kapur Smith

Karisma
Court directed the
Narcotics Control Bureau
to return it to her for Ranbir, Deepika Kapoor
and
Sunjay
permanently last week. Kapur
The agency had seized Actors Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, who dated married in
the actor’s passport in several years ago, reunited on Saturday morning at the 2003. The
Mumbai airport. Clips surfacing online showed the duo couple
2020 in connection with arrive at the terminal within a few minutes of each divorced
NOTE TO READERS: Some of the
a drugs case that was other. Videos circulating on social media show Ranbir coverage that appears on our pages in 2016
linked to the death of her noticing DP, who was making her way to her gate in a is paid for by the concerned brands. after a
former partner, actor cart, and waving at her. Deepika stopped the cart and No sponsored content does or shall long legal
waited for him to join her. The two were also seen appear in any part of HT without it battle
Sushant Singh Rajput. being declared as such to our valued
sharing a hug and chatting as the vehicle drove off.
readers.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ THEDEVERAKONDA

P Sunjay with his third wife, Priya
Sachdev Kapur
You don’t destroy a
WEDDING BELLS! marriage. And Lolo
(Karisma) did not deserve
RASHMIKA,VIJAY that. She was working
very hard to make this
ARE ENGAGED, marriage work.

WILL TIE THE MANDHIRA KAPUR SMITH,

Entrepreneur and Sunjay’s sister

KNOT NEXT YEAR

Neeshita Nyayapati together on 2019’s Dear Comrade as
Priya destroyed Sunjay’s
marriage to Karisma Kapoor,
well.
[email protected]
While the two have shied away from late businessman’s sister

A
fter years of speculation commenting on their relationship
around their relationship, status, eagle-eyed fans in the past have Mandhira claims
actors Rashmika Mandanna pointed out that the actors often share
and Vijay Deverakonda are vacation pictures from the same ate businessman Sunjay Kapur’s taste. Lolo did not deserve that; she was
Vijay
Deverakonda’s
team has
finally engaged. Vijay’s team
confirmed the development to us on
Saturday, hours after rumours of the
engagement emerged online.
While the details are unknown, the
locations.
More recently, the duo were seen
holding hands as they led the 43rd
India Day Parade in New York (US) as
grand marshalls.
L sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith,
recently broke her silence about
her brother’s third wife, Priya
Sachdev Kapur, and his ex-wife, actor
Karisma Kapoor.
working very hard to make it work.”
Mandhira went on to reveal that their
family did not approve of her brother’s
third wife. “Dad (the late businessman
Surinder Kapur) was against Priya and
actor’s team revealed that the two plan Interestingly, both actors finally “Lolo (Karisma) and Sanjay, my said, ‘Sunjay can never marry her. I
confirmed that to get married in February next year. confirmed that they were not single brother, were in a good place. Their son don’t ever want to see her face,” she
Neither Rashmika (29) nor Vijay last year. However, they did not name Kiaan was born, and my brother was shared, adding that only her mum, Rani
the rumoured (36) has made any announcement their respective partners. obsessed with his kids,” she said on Kapur, attended Sunjay and Priya’s New
couple have regarding their engagement.
The two have been rumoured to be
Earlier this year, they were spotted
leaving Mumbai airport together in the
Vickey Lalwani’s YouTube channel.
Accusing Priya of “destroying” the
York wedding in 2017.
Her comments come amid a feud
made it official dating for nearly seven years; they first same vehicle, sparking speculation marriage, Mandhira continued, “For between Priya and the Kapur family
met on the sets of the Telugu film about going whether they were going another woman to not care about a over the inheritance of Sunjay’s
Geetha Govindam (2018) and worked public with their relationship. woman who just had a child is in bad ₹30,000-crore estate. HTC

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/HRITHIKROSHAN PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/FAROUTAKHTAR

It was fun Farhan Akhtar’s family

driver booked in
but too easy, ₹12 lakh fuel card
writes fraud case, admits guilt
Hrithik on htar’s family dr
ctor Farhan Ak s mum,
iver,

A
r hi
who worked fo ey Irani, has been

War 2
on
screenwriter H Police in a fuel card
the Mumbai
bo ok ed by oyee of a
g with an empl
fraud case, alon ted near Bandra Lake.
ca
petrol pump lo lice registered a case
The Bandra po sh Ramvinod Singh, 35,
Nare
against driver un Amar
pu m p employee Ar
and pe tr ol
31 6 (2 ) 31 8 (4) and 3
ctions
Singh under se r a complaint was filed
afte
(5) of the BNS atia, 36,
anager, Diya Bh the accused
Hrithik Roshan by Honey’s m r th e po lic e,
As pe
in a still from on October 1. ed a card issue nks of
d in the
War 2 alle gedl y us
driver up th e fu el ta
an to top
name of Farh r’s ve hicles.
othe er and the
the actor’s m plaint, the driv cheated
As per the com th er al le ge dly
ee to ge
pump employ lakh.
of around ₹12
Farhan’s family vealed that the driver
ns re
Investigatio filled 62
account that he
showed in his the car, which had a
in
litres of diesel ong with that,
ly 35 litres. Al
capacity of on bought oil for a vehicle
so
the accused al o.
ch w as so ld seven years ag
w hi se d to ha vi ng
es
The driver conf e during interrogation,
th e cr im
committ ed om Farhan’s
got the cards fr then, he
saying that he ce
in 2022, and sin ad petrol
former driver s at th e SV Ro
rd
had used the ca ra Lake. He used to get
nd
pump near Ba the card,
refuelling from and ₹1,500.
cash without 00
between ₹1,0
which ranged
HTC

ctor Malvika Raaj Bagga, who played

Pranav Bagga
and Malvika
Raaj Bagga
A young Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
(2001), and husband, entrepreneur
Pranav Bagga welcomed their daughter on
August 23 and named her on Dussehra.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, the couple
shared their first family pictures after having
welcomed their daughter and revealed the
fter months of job and come home. And it A voice that I kept shutting newborn’s name, Mahara. In the

A silence on the
underwhelming box
office showing of War
2, Hrithik Roshan has finally
spoken up. The actor, who
was exactly that. I was taken
care of so well by my director
Ayaan. It was such a pleasure
to have his energy on set.
Everything seemed so perfect.
out. This is too easy... I know
this too well. And another that
said I deserve it, every film
doesn’t have to be a torture
and trauma and an incessant
Malvika and
Pranav name
caption, they wrote, “40 Days of
Mahara. On the auspicious day of
Dussehra, we officially named our
Baby Girl!”
In the carousel of pictures shared,
reprised his role as Kabir in
the sequel to the 2019
blockbuster War, shared a
Like it’s meant to be. A sure
shot. No worries, just needed
to do my job right. Which of
search for the truth of the
moment. Relax.”
War 2, an installment in the
their daughter while they didn’t show her face, the
couple is seen holding their daughter.
Malvika is seen wearing a pink floral
series of pictures from the
shoot on Instagram, along
with a candid note.
course I did,” the 51-year-old
wrote in the caption.
Though he did not
YRF SpyVerse, was directed by
Ayan Mukerji and also starred
Kiara Advani, NTR Jr, and
Mahara dress, with one picture showing
‘Mahara’ inscribed on her dupatta.
She also wore a necklace with her
“Playing Kabir was so much comment on the film’s Anil Kapoor. On the daughter’s name.
fun. So relaxed, knew him so reception, Hrithik turned professional front, Hrithik has The couple dated for almost ten
well. It was going to be easy. reflective in the latter half of Krrish 4 lined up next, which years before Pranav proposed to Malvika in
Finally a movie I could do like the note. He added, “But will see him donning the PHOTOS: Turkey’s Cappadocia. They married in
so many others do, keep it something was lurking behind director’s hat. INSTAGRAM/ November 2023 in Goa and welcomed their
MALVIKARAAJ
simple, play the actor, do your that presumptuous certainty. HTC daughter in August. HTC
02 time out
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

Drop the gold, go bold

PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM

. ► Sonam A
Kapoor
turned heads
with long

with silver Shilpa Shetty Kundra wore a

stack of oxidised silver bangles
earrings

paired with bold, oversized

jhumka earrings

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK(FOR

REPRESENTATIONAL
PURPOSE ONLY)

Can marriage
make you
▲ Rani Mukherjee wore
.
. ► Hina Khan in a
layered boho look,
wearing an ornate
happy? Study
says it’s not
silver oxidised jhumkas and choker, stacked necklaces Oxidised jewellery began in ancient
stacked bangles during Durga and a silver ear cuff with civilisations such as Egypt, Greece,
Puja matching earrings and India, where oxidation was used
to give silver an aged or antique

offering
look, often symbolising status,
Navya Sharma spirituality, or heritage. Sumit
[email protected]
Sawhney, founder and designer,
Apala by Sumit, says, “Traditionally,

T
his festive season, oxidised silver has
stepped out of the shadows to claim the
spotlight. No longer your second option, it
is the main event. A chunky tribal choker
tribal communities wore silver that
naturally aged over time, and its
beauty became more pronounced
with use - the dark finish revealing
anything ‘extra’
or a pair of oversized, art-deco-inspired jhumkas depth and character.”
can turn the simplest outfit into a glam moment. appily ever after begins established.
Aditi Rao Hydari brought
vintage charm to Cannes
with her oxidised silver
Celebrities are already proving this point: Sonam
A Kapoor made waves at London Fashion Week
with bold oxidised ear cuffs, while Rani Mukherji
H after marriage, or so
we are often told. But
from a scientific perspective,
WHAT DOES THIS
MEAN?
anklets commanded attention at Durga Puja celebrations does marriage really make The key takeaways
with chunky statement earrings. people happy? possibly hint at life
A recent long-term study satisfaction coming more
examined the correlation from being in love.
More than a trend with style without the weight of gold or the
between happiness and
marriage, suggesting
Marriage is not the magic
switch for happiness,
For years, gold and diamonds carried the weight of occasion-specific feel of diamonds.” happiness comes much especially in countries
tradition and investment, but with soaring prices, Echoing this perspective, Abhilasha Bhandari, earlier. Moving in with a where live-in relationships
silver and oxidised silver are emerging as
accessible and expressive options.
creative head of Jaipur-based Abhilasha Pret
Jewellery, points to silver’s rising value: “Even from
Handle with care, wear with flair partner adds some
satisfaction, but the main
before marriage are quite
common.
“Oxidised silver feels artisanal, authentic, and an investment point of view, silver has seen a l Store all your silver jewellery pieces in soft pouches or boost comes when a So, the next time your
versatile. It has personality and story,” says sharp rise in price percentage-wise compared to airtight boxes, away from humidity. relationship forms. parents or relatives nag
Akanksha Arora, CEO of Tribe Amrapali, adding, gold. People these days are more drawn to white l Avoid contact with perfumes, lotions, and water you about the doom
“Younger consumers see jewellery as self- gold or oxidised effects, which makes silver a good l A quick wipe with a soft, dry cloth is all you need. WHAT DOES MARRIAGE awaiting you if you’re not
expression. Oxidised silver allows them to play option for them.” l Harsh cleaners or vigorous polishing will strip away that ADD? married by 30, point them
darkened finish. Marriage adds very little to this study; it’s a reality
‘extra’ happiness. Perhaps a check: marriage, it turns
few decades ago, the increase out, doesn’t offer anything
Styling tips: Silver jewellery’s style flexibility is unmatched. That
in happiness was more extra beyond cohabitation
single-statement choker? It works just as well with your casual Friday
significant, but today, it or a committed
shirt as it does with a dressy lehenga. Stack those bangles high for a
remains largely unchanged; partnership.
maximum-impact bohemian look, or wear a single cuff for a subtle,
this level persists from the
mysterious edge. You’re the creative director here, and oxidised silver

Have fun
moment the relationship is Adrija Dey
is your perfect co-star.

{ DAILY HOROSCOPE }

with facts
Sunday, October 05, 2025
Dr Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer and Vaastu expert) can be contacted at: Delhi: 011-47033152, 40532026 (Sat
to Mon); Panchkula: 91-172-2562832, 2572874 (Tues to Thurs); Mumbai: 09716145644 (Last week of every month)
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forward in exciting ways. flowing in consistently. business. Financial habits
Catch the latest column of An investment chance Guidance from a mentor enhance your awareness

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may appear that deserves attention. sparks breakthroughs and shapes of the true costs and opportunities.
Thinking about well-being can help business ventures. Rentals remain a Travel today, whether spontaneous
sustain fitness levels. dependable income. or planned, uplifts your spirit.
LOVE FOCUS: A soulful connection LOVE FOCUS: Aligning future dreams LOVE FOCUS: Reliving old memories
may deepen into something timeless. with your partner fosters balance. adds warmth to your bond.
LUCKY NUMBER: 3 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 17 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 2 LUCKY COLOUR:
Yellow Cream Purple
A quiz on the week’s development.
TAURUS VIRGO CAPRICORN
APR 21-MAY 20 AUG 24-SEP 23 DEC 22-JAN 21

T I c
Market changes influence Income may fluctuate, Evaluate investment risks
business expansion, but making careful budgeting before committing can
adjustments help sustain essential. Exploring new help prevent regret later.
growth. Keeping screen destinations brings delight Algorithm shifts unsettle
time limited may clear your mind Domestic responsibilities may spark social media ventures, demanding
and ease tension. A family member’s conflict unless the roles are clearly flexibility. Family insecurities may
rebellious attitude requires patience. communicated. stem from emotional neglect.
LOVE FOCUS: Both passion and calm LOVE FOCUS: Feeling unheard in love LOVE FOCUS: Equal effort is needed to
moments shape today’s emotions. needs patience and communication. bring love into balance.
LUCKY NUMBER: 7 LUCKY COLOUR: Dark LUCKY NUMBER: 1 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 4 LUCKY COLOUR:
Grey Maroon Saffron

GEMINI LIBRA AQUARIUS

MAY 21-JUN 21 SEP 24-OCT 23 JAN 22-FEB 19

G l a
Using modern tools can Property matters move A family gathering may
help strengthen financial slower than expected, provide opportunities to
planning and efficiency. with paperwork causing reconnect and share
Parents may unexpectedly delays. While travelling, warmth. Achieving fitness
share a conversation that turns into staying alert prevents stress and targets feels close, though occasional
an invaluable life lesson. allows full enjoyment. dips in motivation might appear.
LOVE FOCUS: Words of reassurance LOVE FOCUS: Conversations may carry LOVE FOCUS: Supporting emotional
nurture closeness and build trust. meaning and build stronger ties. growth builds a deeper relationship.
LUCKY NUMBER: 8 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 11 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 18 LUCKY COLOUR:
White Red Baby Pink

CANCER SCORPIO PISCES

JUN 22-JUL 22 OCT 24-NOV 22 FEB 20-MAR 20

C S P
Too much caffeine could Travel brings obstacles Plan finances with equal
throw off energy rhythm, and small victories, each focus on both savings and
so moderation matters. teaching valuable lessons. investment for balance.
Approach financial risks New business efforts yield Leasing property on a
with care to ensure lasting stability. results though careful budgeting is short-term basis offers flexibility, but
Selling property may take longer than essential. Property planning requires returns stay moderate. Health can be
hoped, but optimism helps. foresight for stability. stabilised by prioritising self-care.
LOVE FOCUS: A familiar face from the LOVE FOCUS: Balance emotional LOVE FOCUS: Offering guidance builds
hindustantimes htTweets www.hindustantimes.com past might stir emotions. energy to prevent exhaustion. your partner’s trust and closeness.
LUCKY NUMBER: 5 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 22 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 9 LUCKY COLOUR :
Green Blue Magenta
 lifestyle 03
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

Entertainment & Promotional Features

PHOTOS: HTCS

#instastyle
Randeep and Lin join Archery
Premier League 2025 as co-
owners of Prithviraaj Yodhas
with EBIX as team sponsors Kriti Sanon
PHOTOS:
INSTAGRAM

ith the aim of

W reviving archery’s
popularity, actor
Randeep Hooda
and his wife, actor
and former national-level archer
Lin Laishram, have stepped into
the world of sports
Dr Vikas Garg with
coach Lokesh Chand

entrepreneurship as co-owners of
Prithviraaj Yodhas. It is the
Delhi franchise in the inaugural
Archery Premier League (APL),
alongside Dr Vikas Garg,
Chairman, Ebix Group.
The 10-day league, being held
from October 2 to 12 at the
Capital’s Yamuna Sports Complex,
brings together top archers from
India and around the world in a Dr Vikas Garg, Celebrities too crave those guilty
modern, franchise-based format. Randeep Hooda, pleasures, just like the rest of us. Palak
A grand opening ceremony was Sukriti Garg, Tiwari gave fans a peek into her glam
held recently, graced by actor Sharvari Shende, pre-birthday weekend, dropping a photo
Ram Charan and leaders, Sandeep Singh dump with the cheeky caption: “A Pre
including Union Minister Arjun Chauhan birthday weekend for ms mommy and I.”
Munda, Delhi BJP President Meanwhile, Kriti Sanon was spotted
Virendra Sachdeva, and Union . ◄ Virendra Sachdeva living the dolce vita in sunny Sicily (Italy),
Minister Harsh Malhotra. and Arjun Munda and sneaking in a dessert break while filming
APL 2025 features six with actor Ram Charan her latest project.
franchises, with leading Indian
and international archers, . ► Andrea Becerra
including Andrea Becerra,
Abhishek Verma, Brady Ellison,
Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das, ▼ Randeep Hooda,
.

and Jyothi Surekha. Adding Sharad Rathi and Dr Palak

further strength to the initiative, Vikas Garg Ebix sponsored Tiwari
Ebix has partnered with the team, Prithviraaj
APL as part of its commitment to Yodhas
shaping India’s sporting
ecosystem and encouraging youth
participation in archery.

Ram
Charan

Ebix has previously supported

marquee events such as the IPL
2024, UP Volleyball League 2025,
Delhi Premier League 2025, the
Celebrity Cricket League 2025, and
digital promotions for Wimbledon
2025. With stars like Randeep and
Lin now backing the sport, the
league is set to inspire a new
generation. For Lin, this venture is
deeply personal. For her, it is like
returning to the sport that shaped
her childhood. Her association will
inspire young girls to take up this
sport and rediscover its joy. HTC

YOUR FOOD, VODKA-FIED What’s your sign?

Close on the heels of International Vodka
Day, we take a fresh look at this iconic spirit,
There’s an aroma for
which is being used in restaurants that!
Fiery signs
Akshita Prakash vodka. Creator Rico Soto especially like Aries are
[email protected]
experiments a lot with this fusion, more prone
creating red velvet booze shakes, and to headaches,
hether you’ve indulged in the Jarrod Rickard has worked with so they

W exciting kick of a vodka gol-

gappa or savoured liquor-
infused chocolates, it’s clear vodka is
strawberry milkshakes infused with
vodka.
There are more creative ways to use Vodka-infused chocolates can be made by
benefit from
calming
aromas like
charting new territory beyond the vodka in your dishes. Chef Manish creating a ganache with a small amount of vodka lavender
drink menu. As the world celebrated Mehrotra has previously used vodka or filling a chocolate shell with a vodka syrup
International Vodka Day on October 4, as a tomato sauce (¼ cup of vodka) in
we took a fresh look at this iconic spirit, his dish, sweet potato steak. “Sweet
not just as a popular drink but as a potato is a very hardcore level,
dynamic ingredient increasingly grassroots Indian ingredient, and after
embraced by restaurant kitchens. grilling it, there is a lot of smoky
Chef Parth Gupta, founder of flavour added to it. Adding vodka
Cicchetti Italiano, tells us that their enhances the whole flavour profile of
signature bestseller — Ziti alla Vodka — it.”
is a creamy vodka sauce pasta. “In this Chef Suvir Saran also uses vodka
dish, 30ml of vodka acts as a flavour while preparing his salads, for which
bridge between the tangy tomato base he says, “a tablespoon or two does the
and the richness of cream, helping to trick”. He further says, “When you
release aromatic compounds in have fruits that are a little too ripe, you
tomatoes that wouldn’t come through
otherwise. This makes the sauce more
add a little bit of vodka; it just elevates
the flavour profile.” He says that he How to
rounded, balanced, and flavourful
without overpowering the dish,” he
also uses it in his dough, which makes
it crisp and light, adding a burst of incorporate Vodka is often used in pasta sauces to
emulsify and enhance the flavour profile
Ruchika Garg
[email protected]
She says,“I am a designer and I love playing
with colours. For over a decade, I’ve been
says.
But beyond just this, foodies and
flavour to it.
Talking about the flavours of vodka it in your e’ve all heard of aromatherapy,
learning and practising alternative therapies,
reiki, pranic healing and balancing my life
home chefs have been experimenting
with their milkshake recipes by
preparing it with a twist featuring
he has used, he lists down
tangerine, citron, pomegranate,
lemon, lime, saffron and raspberry.
dishes
l Use it as a marinade
W but have you tried zodiac
aromatherapy yet? Think
essential oils and candles
tailored to your sun sign, a blend that
promises to soothe fiery tempers, calm
between creativity and healing. During
Covid, when I felt stuck, I decided to pursue
my passion for aromatherapy.”
Her love for astrology naturally fused with
her aromatherapy experiments: “The idea is
In desserts, especially sorbet and When you have for your meat: Vodka restless minds, sharpen focus and even lift to first understand how a planet influences
liquor chocolate, vodka works fruits that are a little cream chicken – 45 ml moods. It’s a cosmic-meets-sensory wellness one’s mood and personality traits, and then
really well. In chowder, seafood too ripe, you add a little (3 tbsp) vodka for a hack that’s gaining traction, thanks to suggest aromas accordingly. Aroma can
soup or shorba, 15ml vodka goes bit of vodka and it just sauce serving 2 chicken designer-turned-healer Peali Dutta Gupta trigger specific emotions. For example, fiery
well as it pairs well with tomato or adds the right amount breasts and her brand Pranna. signs like Aries are more prone to
seafood. In around 500gms of fish of flavour. One can also l For sorbets and ice Born during the lockdown, Pranna’s headaches, so they benefit from calming
or seafood, around 60ml of vodka use it in dough for pizza, cream: 2tbsp vodka for zodiac-inspired collection (starting at ₹500) aromas like lavender. Rosemary aids focus,
is enough. I also think vodka pani which makes it 1 litre of sorbet or ice is all about enhancing personalities through while rose helps uplift the mood.”
puri is a great concept where one crisp and light, cream mixture aromas aligned with each star sign. But Pranna isn’t just about aromas, it’s a
puts about 15ml of vodka in adding a burst l To make a pizza dough: Make vodka-infused sorbet by adding a design story too. Peali pours her
about 1 litre of pani. Though, of flavour to 60ml vodka in 500 g small amount of the spirit to your fruit creativity into the products and
I have seen guests asking it. flour dough and simple syrup base packaging, marrying wellness with
for more to be put in it. l Rule of thumb: Use ¼ style: “Initially it wasn’t
CHEF to ½ cup vodka in commercial, I would gift my
CHEF NISHANT SUVIR sauces and doughs creations to friends and family,
CHOUBEY SARAN (serves 4); use 2-3 tbsp and they loved them. The
vodka for proteins demand grew so much that I
(serves 2); use 1-2 tbsp eventually turned it into a full-
per litre for frozen fledged business and delivers pan
desserts. India.” Crafted from natural
ingredients with eco-friendly
packaging, Pranna’s products tick the
sustainability box as well. And interestingly,
it’s Gen Z who are lapping it up. “There’s so
much curiosity among younger audiences
PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK
AND INSTAGRAM for spiritual and astrology-based products.
Daughters of my friends, for instance, have
been ordering them as birthday presents and
gifting items,” she adds.
04 showbiz
BENGALURU
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 05, 2025

‘DIDN’T KNOW
Anshula
Kapoor and
Rohan
Thakkar pose
with their
family

PHOTOS:
INSTAGRAM
THE FINALE TWIST
UNTIL AN HOUR
BEFORE SHOOT’ Akash Bhatnagar
Actor Sahher [email protected]

Bambba on ryan Khan’s directorial debut The

working in Aryan
Khan’s directorial
debut The Ba***ds
A Ba***ds Of Bollywood has been making
waves since its release, especially for the
unexpected finale twist. But it turns out
the surprise was not just for viewers; even the
cast was kept in the dark until the last moment.
of Bollywood Actor Sahher Bambba, who plays leading lady
Karishma Talvar, shares, “Aryan was very tight-
lipped about the climax. Usne kisi ko bhi nahin
bataya tha ki twist kya hai. In fact, the cast was
making up our own interpretations. I asked
Aryan, ‘Does Karishma die at the end? Does
Bobby (Deol, actor, portrays her father Ajay
Sahher Bambba; Talvar) sir shoot her?’ He just asked us to wait.
(inset) with Aryan We didn’t even know the show’s name — it was
Khan untitled for the longest
time. So, we didn’t know
▲ A card
. what was to happen.”
commemorating The big reveal, she says,
the upcoming happened on the day of
wedding the shoot: “Aryan called
all of us to his van half an

Anshula poses with a childhood pic featuring

mum Mouna Shourie Kapoor
Anshula posts pics hour before we shot the
finale; he narrated the
whole climax and showed
us clips he had shot with

from engagement the crew as reference.”

Her reaction to the twist
was unsurprising and she

with Rohan
recalls, “For the first five
minutes, I was
gobsmacked. I even asked
myself, ‘Did I go to Goa to
ontent creator and live in moments like these. A shoot this intimacy

C entrepreneur Anshula
Kapoor has shared the
first set of pictures
from her Gor Dhana with
fiancé, writer Rohan Thakkar.
room overflowing with
laughter, hugs, blessings, and
the people who make our
world feel full. And then, Ma’s
love…quietly wrapping itself
workshop to find this out?’
We all cracked up and
were hoping that the
audience would feel the
same, too!”
Gor Dhana is a Gujarati pre- around us. In her flowers, in Praising Aryan’s
wedding ceremony similar to her words, in her seat, in the directorial approach, the
an engagement. way her presence could still 26-year-old adds,
Taking to Instagram, be felt everywhere. All I “Whether it took 20 or 30
Anshula posted the pictures remember is looking around takes, he would make sure
that featured her family and thinking: this is what the scene came out exactly
members, including father forever should feel like. Rab as he envisioned. He never had any hierarchy on
Boney Kapoor, brother Arjun raakha (May God protect set, and there was not a single day when he lost
Kapoor, and half-sisters you).” She also shared a his cool. I even asked Shah Rukh Khan sir
Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi picture of a card on her (Aryan’s father), ‘How is he so calm and cool?’”
Kapoor. Instagram Stories, which she shares, adding, “He is very sharp as a
Anshula added, “His love read, “Ghar ki pehli shaadi director, but he’s also the funniest person in any
makes me believe fairytales (First wedding of our home).” room. All memories I have of him are of him
Arjun Kapoor puts a tilak on Rohan’s forehead don’t just live in books, they HTC making everyone laugh.”
PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM/ SAHHERBAMBBA

SALMAN
GEARS UP HAVE FUN
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

FOR BATTLE WITH FACTS ON SUNDAYS

OF GALWAN Catch the latest column of

FINALE A
After a 45-day start-to-finish A quiz on the week’s development.
shoot in Leh, the actor begins the
second leg of filming next week
alongside Chitrangda Singh
Rohit Bhatnagar social media, giving fans a
rohit.bhatnagar
peek into the big-budget
@hindustantimes.com
production.
Mounted on a large scale,
ast month, actor Battle of Galwan will see

L Salman Khan
completed the first
schedule of his much-
anticipated film Battle of
Galwan in Leh, Ladakh.
Salman play an army officer as
the film revisits the 2020
Galwan Valley clash between
Indian and Chinese troops — a
rare border skirmish that
After shooting a rigourous turned deadly despite the
45-day schedule, the actor absence of firearms.
returned to Mumbai last Away from the sets, Salman
week where he was spotted also paid a visit to Ladakh’s
clean-shaven. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder
The 59-year-old Gupta at Raj Niwas in Leh.
reportedly took a break Dressed in a blue shirt and
from filming after he denims, the actor was pictured
sustained injuries while while locked in a cheerful
shooting in Leh. However, a conversation with Gupta, who
source close to the project gifted the actor a traditional
has revealed that the actor is Thangka canvas painting
now set to move on to the depicting the life of Buddha.
final leg of the film. “After
wrapping up the first
schedule in Ladakh, Salman P
and the rest of the cast will
resume the second schedule While the recce has
in Mumbai this month. The been completed, all
shoot is expected to
conclude by November,” the details of the exact
insider shares, adding,
“Actor Chitrangada Singh
shoot locations
will also join this schedule. remain under
The recce has been
completed, but the details of
wraps. The filming
the exact locations are still is expected to
under wraps.”
Director Apoorva Lakhia
conclude by
and cast member Ankur November.
Bhatia had shared several
behind-the-scenes glimpses SOURCE hindustantimes htTweets www.hindustantimes.com
of the Ladakh shoot on